Upholding Nazrul's non-communal spirit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh is being developed, upholding the non-communal spirit of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

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

“We hope you'll work with the same (non-communal) spirit,” she said to fresh graduates at a special convocation ceremony at Kazi Nazrul University (KNU).

Sheikh Hasina was addressing the function after receiving Doctor of Literature (DLitt) degree from the university at Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district.

The KNU authorities conferred the honorary DLitt degree upon Hasina in recognition of her outstanding contributions towards nurturing a just and disparity-free society, following the ideals of Nazrul.

Hasina said non-communalism and humanity were reflected in verses and works of Narul, also known as the “Rebel Poet”.

“I would like to request you to put humanity above everything in every sphere of life, not only in workplace,” she told the graduates.

The prime minister also said though the erstwhile Bengal was parted, the two great poets -- Nazrul and Rabindranath -- were not divided; they belong to both Bengals (Bangladesh and West Bengal.                       

She said Nazrul's spirit will remain a source of inspiration for people to work for the welfare of the human race.

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

About the Rohingyas, the premier said Bangladesh has provided shelter to 1.1 million refugees on humanitarian ground. “We want a quick solution to the crisis. We want that our young generation will be protected from conflict, terrorism, militancy and drugs.”

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

She expressed her deep respect to the memories of Kazi Nazrul Islam on the occasion of his 119th birth anniversary.

Hasina said there are many resemblances between the characters of Nazrul and Father of the Nation Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“One was a poet of literature, while the other was a political poet.”

She said Nazrul's poems were sources of inspiration during the Liberation War in 1971.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought the poet to Dhaka after the Liberation War, she said.

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.

Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Friday on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Friday, Hasina along with Narendra Modi unveiled the plaque of Bangladesh Bhaban at Vivsa-Bharati University in Santiniketan.