Kazi Nazrul to be officially recognised as national poet

FE Team | Published: December 06, 2024 00:50:46

Kazi Nazrul Islam is known as the national poet to Bangladeshis, but there has been nothing official about it - no formal or state recognition.
But now, the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has decided to make the recognition official.
The decision was taken at an Advisory Council meeting held on Thursday, said Ataur Rahman, secretary (routine duties) of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
He told bdnews24.com, "The issue was presented in the Advisory Council meeting Thursday and a policy decision has been made. We can't say anything about it officially."
"Because there is a little concern here. A gazette on the matter will be published once the issue is resolved by the law ministry."
Asked what the issue is, Ataur said: "There was a rule in this regard issued by the High Court in 2022. The answer had also been provided in favour of today's policy decision, not against it."
On Jun 22, 2022, 10 Supreme Court lawyers, including Deputy Attorney General Md Asad Uddin, filed a writ petition seeking instructions to publish a gazette declaring Nazrul as the national poet of Bangladesh.
The High Court then issued a rule asking why the authorities should not be directed to issue a gazette notification, officially declaring him as a national poet.
The cultural affairs secretary, the director general of the Bangla Academy, and the executive director of the Kabi Nazrul Institute were asked to respond to the rule in four weeks.
Ataur said, "We have already submitted our explanation to the High Court. The ministry had said it should be done."
"But the court is yet to settle the matter. The gazette will be published once the High Court resolves this."
Nazrul was born in the village of Churulia in West Bengal's Bardhaman district on May 24, 1899.
The revolutionary poet was known as 'Dukhu Mia' in his childhood after he lost his father and close relatives and battled financial difficulty.
Despite this, he emerged as one of the key figures in Bengali poetry and literature, with many praising his literary works as being enriched with the spirit of equality and humanity.
He later came to be known as the rebel poet for his passionate prose and bold themes.
Nazrul died in Dhaka on Aug 29, 1976. Bangladesh celebrates both his birth and death anniversaries according to the Bengali calendar.
His granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi told bdnews24.com, "We have been pressing our demand to the government to this end through the Kabi Nazrul Institute for a long time."