Bangladesh being built with Nazrul's non-communal spirit

ASANSOL (West Bengal), May 26 (UNB): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Saturday Bangladesh is being built imbued with the non-communal spirit of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

"Nazrul was motivated by non-communal spirit. So, we're building Bangladesh with this non-communal spirit. Such spirit is reflected in our principle and ideology where people, irrespective of their race and religion, will enjoy equal rights," she said.

"So, we hope you'll work with the same (non-communal) spirit," she said pointing at the fresh graduates at a special convocation ceremony of Kazi Nazrul University (KNU).

Sheikh Hasina was addressing the function after receiving DLitt degree from the university at Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district.

Hasina said non-communalism and humanity were reflected in verses and works of Kazi Narul Islam.

"I would like to request you to put humanity above everything in every sphere of life, not only in workplaces," she said.

The Prime Minister said though the Bangla was parted, but the two great poets -- Nazrul and Rabindranath -- were not divided. "They belong to the two Banglas (Bangladesh and West Bengal)."

She said Nazrul's spirit will remain for ages as source of inspiration for people to work for the welfare of the human being.

Talking about this region, Hasina said, "In case of all development plans, we are not thinking for only Bangladesh rather this subcontinent. We want to make this subcontinent a developed and prosperous one freeing it from poverty and hunger."

About Rohingya, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh has provided shelter to 1.1 million Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds. "We want a quick solution to the crisis. We want that our young generation will be protected from clash, conflict, terrorism, militancy and drugs."

Expressing her heartfelt thanks to the university authorities for conferring this honorary degree, she dedicated the honour to the people of Bangladesh and all Bangalis.

The Prime Minister said there are many resemblances between the characters of poet Nazrul Islam and Father of the Nation Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "One person was a poet of literature, while another was a political poet."

She said Nazrul was born in India, but he is the national poet of Bangladesh. His poems were sources of inspiration during the 1971 Liberation War.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought poet Nazrul to Dhaka after the Liberation War. Bangabandhu also awarded citizenship to the great poet and declared him as the National Poet of Bangladesh.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee also spoke on the occasion, while Vice Chancellor of the Kazi Nazrul University Dr Sadhan Chakrabarti delivered the welcome speech.