Nazrul's birth anniversary celebration begins tomorrow

Nazrul Academy is going to organise an eight-day programme beginning from tomorrow in the city to mark the 109th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
The main programme will be held at Shaheed Zia Auditorium at National Museum on May 25 at 5:00pm where Nazrul Academy Medal-2008, Nazrul Academy Reception Crest-2008 and Nazrul Academy Citation-2008 will be conferred.
The programmes were announced yesterday at a press conference at the National Press Club in the city organised by Nazrul Academy, a pioneering institution of research and practice on Nazrul.
General Secretary of the academy Mintoo Rahman said Nazrul Academy Medal-2008 will be awarded to late AH Saidur Rahman in recognition of his contribution to Nazrul songs and Dr Askar Ibne Shykh for his contribution to Nazrul's dramas.
He also said singers Joseph Kamal Rodriguez and Ferdousi Ara will be given Nazrul Academy Reception Crest-2008 in recognition of their contribution to Nazrul songs.
Besides, Lutfur Rahman Sarkar, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, will be awarded Nazrul Academy Citation-2008 and artist Jannat Ara will be given the honorary award (posthumous), he added.
He further said former chief justice Mostofa Kamal will attend the programme as the chief guest, while noted Nazrul researcher Abdul Mannan Syed will be present as the key speaker.
Nazrul Academy President Dr Ashraf Siddique will preside over the programme, while Begum Khil Khil Kazi, granddaughter of the poet, Khalid Hossain, principal of the academy and Arif-Ud-Daula, senior sub-editor of the Ittefaq, will give their welcome speeches, said the organisers.
Wreaths will be placed and fateha will be offered at the grave of the national poet on the central mosque premises at Dhaka University in the morning of his birth anniversary day, they added.
On May 26, Nazrul conference will be held at 5:00pm at National Museum where artists from across the country will participate.
Besides, renditions of solo Nazrul songs will be held everyday on May 22, 23, 24, 27 and 28 at the academy bhaban from 6:00pm to 10:00pm.
Artists Joseph Kamal Rodricks, Ferdousi Ara, Nashid Kamal, Khairul Anam Shakil, Fahmida Rahman, Yeakub Ali and a host of singers will perform on the days.
On May 31, the last day of the eight-day programme, a discussion will be held at Doctor Maleka University College Bhaban in the city at 4:00pm with Dr Ashraf Siddique in the chair, added the organisers.
Channel-i is the media partner of the programmes, while Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd is the key sponsor.
Nazrul Academy President Dr Ashraf Siddique, Vice President Mizanur Rahman, International Affairs Secretary Masud Mannan, Joint Secretary Atikur Rahman and former city editor of the Ittefaq Syed Akter Yusuf took part in the press conference.