Poet and journalist Jahangir Feroze thinks that poetry takes the readers to a new sights, sounds and feelings by opening up the world of imagination.

‘Poetry provokes the readers’ thoughts and ideas and teaches to think in a new or different way. Poetry takes the reader to a new world of sights, sounds and feelings by opening up the world of imagination,’ the poet said in an interview with New Age on Sunday.

Born at Beerpushia in Tangail on April 6, 1955, Jahangir Feroze started writing poems at his early age. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Bangla literature from the University of Dhaka.

The poet does not believe in the concept of passports, boundaries or national divisions. In his several poems, including ‘Hete Jabo’, he advocates for the universal brotherhood and the human solidarity.

‘Poets from around the world mainly collaborate to create shared verses, aiming for unity, peace and cultural exchange,’ he mentions.

Although the poet’s first poem was published in 1972, he took 17 years to publish his debut collection of poems titled Baddha Matal Rode. His literary works include ‘Je Chhilo Praner Jaruri’, ‘Chakrijeebeeder Kono Spartacus Nei’, ‘Anubishwer Meghmala’, ‘Chhera Tukro Megh’, ‘Laloner Pakhi Ure Jay’, ‘Mauribaner Batas’ and ‘Sagarer Garjan Theke Noon Rakte Asilo’.

He thinks that a poet comes into the world with the urge of writing poems. He also considers writing poems to be an incurable disease, mentioning, ‘The journey of a poet ends with death.’

But, the feeling a poet gets after finishing writing a poem is like looking at child’s face, says the poet, adding, ‘I have been able to give myself such happiness for more than 50 years.’

A journalist by profession, Jahangir Feroze, in his career, has worked with several newspapers, including the Dainik Bangla, Durbar, Bichitra, Janata, Bartaman, Millat, Dinkal, Inqilab and Amar Desh, and currently working as editor of Bangladesh Barta. He was also former director at the Press Institute of Bangladesh.

During the authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country ending her 15-year rule amid an unprecedented student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024, many poets and fiction writers of the country were legitimising instead of questioning the authoritarian regime of Hasina. But Jahangir Feroze wrote poems against Hasina’s misrule.

‘Poets inspire people with love and teach them the language of protest and resistance,’ he notes, concluding that poets must stand against all sorts of injustices.