Bangladesh Shilpalakala Academy organised a poetry session titled Ekusheyr Kabita at the Chitrashala auditorium of the national gallery building to pay tribute to the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement.
The event observing Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day featured poetry reading by renowned poets and recital artistes of the country, with newly-appointed minister for cultural affairs Nitai Roy Chowdhury and state minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam attending as chief guest and special guest, at the event chaired by the BSA director general, poet Rezauddin Ahmed Stalin.
Secretary Mohammad Zakir Hossain delivered a welcome speech at the event.
The event began with Matin Bairagi’s poem on the 1952 Language Movement and the beauty of Bengali language. Poets including Farhana Alam Mahi, Emran Mahfuz, Mohon Raihan, Mahbub Hasan, Shakhawat Tipu and Asad Kajol read their poems, while recital artistes including Seema Islam, Farjana Eli and Jannatul Ferdous Mim rendered poems on the language movement at the event.
Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam said that through diverse cultural practices, the newly elected government wants to build a welfare state for citizens.
‘Through national culture, we need to promote patriotism among the younger generation,’ he said.
Nitai Roy Chowdhury paid homage to the July martyrs and addressed cultural activist’s participation in various movements.
‘We want to build a nation against injustice and a modern secular country for all,’ he said.
Rezauddin Ahmed Stalin said that the poets broke the barricades which reflected in the history of Bangladesh.
‘The government should award the right person in the cultural field,’ he added.
