Award in elocution, in honour of Kazi Sabyasachi

Kazi Sabyasachi

To mark the 90th anniversary of the publication of Nazrul's poem “Bidrohi”, Bangladesh government has initiated an award for elocutionists. The award is named after Nazrul's son Kazi Sabyasachi. This year, the award went to veteran elocutionist and Director General of Bangladesh Television, Kazi Abu Zafar Siddiqui. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over a crest and prize money (Tk. 50,000) to Siddiqui at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day Bangladesh India joint celebration programme held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre yesterday morning.
Khilkhil Kazi, daughter of Kazi Sabyasachi, was ecstatic. She said that the Kazi family suggested the government to initiate such an award. “As one of the members of the national committee that celebrates Nazrul birth anniversary, I suggested the government to launch the award,” says Khilkhil.
Although this year the award was conferred on veteran elocutionist Siddiqui, Khilkhil informed that promoting young reciters is an aim of this initiative.
“In future, young reciters will be considered for the award,” says Khilkhil.
Kazi Sabyasachi was the first to record recitation of the poem “Bidrohi”, in 1966. He worked hard to reach out to the masses with the poem. In this regard, Khilkhil sees the award as a recognition of her father's work.