Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh has officially recognised Kazi Nazrul Islam as the national poet finally.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has issued a gazette notification declaring Nazrul as the national poet from the date (24 May 1972) of his arrival in the country.

Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Ataur Rahman signed the notification as per the order of the president.

On 5 December, the Advisory Council of the interim government approved a proposal to publish a gazette officially recognising Kazi Nazrul Islam as the national poet of Bangladesh.

Poet Nazrul was brought to Dhaka with his family on 24 May 1972 from India’s Kolkata on government initiative. He was allotted a residence – House 330B on Road-28 (Old) – in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.

In 1974, the authorities of Dhaka University decided to award the poet with the honorary Doctor of Letters (DLit) degree in recognition of his contribution to Bangla literature and culture.

He was conferred the award by the then president Mohammad Mohammadullah, also the chancellor of Dhaka University, at a special programme held at Bangabhaban on 25 January 1975.

In January 1976, the Bangladesh government granted him citizenship and on 21 February, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian award.

Nazrul was born in the village of Churulia in West Bengal’s Bardhaman district on 24 May 1899 and died on 29 August 1976 in Dhaka.

A poet, novelist, lyricist, composer, playwright, and journalist, Nazrul is one of the most celebrated cultural icons of the nation.

His fiery poems had made him a rebel poet and inspired the subjugated mass people to fight against the oppression and injustice of the British colonial rule.

And the nation got inspiration from his poems and songs during the Liberation War and all democratic movements and struggles.

Besides, Nazrul’s raga based songs had developed their taste and encouraged them to experience the eternal beauty of love.