The inauguration of “Nazrul Barsha”, a year-long nationwide programme commemorating National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, has been postponed, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has announced.

According to an earlier schedule, the three-day opening programme was set to begin on June 18. The ministry now says the inauguration will be held in the final week of June to allow for a larger-scale program. A revised schedule will be announced later.

Prime Minister  Tarique Rahman declared the period from May 25, 2026, to May 25, 2027, as “Nazrul Barsha” during celebrations marking the poet’s birth anniversary in Trishal, Mymensingh, on May 23.

Preparations for the year-long observance were discussed at a meeting of the national committee on Monday, chaired by Cultural Affairs Adviser Nitai Roy Chowdhury.

Officials said funds have already been allocated to support programmes nationwide, with Tk 2.5 lakh earmarked for each of the country’s 64 districts and Tk 1.5 lakh for each of 74 remote upazilas. The total allocation stands at Tk 2.71 crore.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has outlined a range of proposed initiatives for the year-long observance, including a large-scale Nazrul Fair, an international conference of Nazrul scholars, nationwide competitions based on the poet’s works, and the publication of a commemorative volume featuring selected writings.

Other proposals under consideration include special programmes on Bangladesh Television, university-based research and discussions on Nazrul’s contribution to women’s emancipation, a major patriotic Nazrul song festival in December, and special Ramadan programmes centred on the poet’s hamd and naat compositions.

The proposals are currently undergoing review before final approval.