The five-day Sikandar Abu Zafar mela, marking the 93rd birth anniversary of poet Sikandar Abu Zafar was inaugurated recently at Tentulia high school premises.
The event was organised by Poet Sikandar Abu Zafar Mela Udjapon Parishad.
Elaborate programmes including discussions, recitation of poems and a cultural programme were chalked out to convey the ideology of the poet among the masses. Lawmaker, Engineer Sheikh Mujibur Rahman inaugurated the mela as chief guest.
The inaugural ceremony was chaired by PSAZMUP chairman and Satkhira Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Md Anowar Hossain Hawladar. Additional Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Chandra Biswas, Tala upazila chairman Ghosh Sanat Kumar, Tala government college principal, Professor Sheikh Abdul Malek and MUP member secretary and Tala UNO Md Mahbubur Rahman were the special guests. Sikandar Abu Zafar Foundation executive director Syed Zulfiqar Ali, Syed Zunayed Akbar, journalist Jalil Ahmed, GM Khalilur Rahman, Akhtaruzzaman addressed the audience.
Paying rich tributes to Sikandar Abu Zafar, the speakers said the nation will remember him for his great contribution to Bengali literature.
They went on to add that the poet was dedicated to the development of sports in the area. For instance, he set up a gymnasium and a football ground and formed a football team in his village. He also took the initiative to arrange annual football competitions.
After the discussion, a cultural function was held at the same venue.