Julhasuddin Ahmad and late Nilufar Yasmin awarded Nazrul Medal

To mark the 104th birth anniversary of our rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam the Ministry of Cultural Affairs had arranged a three-day-long programme. The second day of the programme presented a discussion, award-giving and cultural programme at the National Museum on May 26.

Veteran Nazrul singer Julhasuddin Ahmad was given the Nazrul Medal of 1409 and late eminent Nazrul singer Nilufar Yasmin was awarded with the Nazrul Medal 1410. Barrister Aminul Haque, Minister of Telecommunication Ministry, the chief guest, gave away the gold medal, a crest, a cheque and a certificate. Singer Julhasuddin Ahmad said on receiving the award, "It is an unforgettable day of my life." On behalf of Nilufar Yasmin, his son singer Agun received the award.

The chief guest of the programme said, "As it is impossible to think of English literature without Shakespeare, it is impossible to think of Bangla literature without Nazrul and Rabindranath. The world literature can be tasted by reading the creations of these two great literary personalities. Nazrul was like a comet and this was admitted by Rabindranath as well. The poems of Nazrul have unthinkable diversity, his songs have the variation of music and lyric."

Speaking as the chairperson, State Minister of Cultural Ministry, Begum Selima Rahman said, "Nazrul fought against injustice, fraud and communalism all his life. He enlightened the Muslim society with his songs. His songs and poems inspired us in the Liberation War and in the agitation against the British regime."

Main discussant of the programme, Abul Kalam Manzur Morshed talked about Nazrul's visits to many places of Bangladesh. The Executive Director of Nazrul Institute, Poet Abdul Mannan Syed, the Secretary of Cultural Ministry, Modabber Hossain Chowdhury also spoke at the event.

After the discussion a cultural programme followed. MA Mannan, Khalid Hossain, Nashid Kamal, Yasmin Mushtari, Fatematuz Zohra sang Nazrul songs. The grandson of Nazrul's younger brother, Shubarno Kazi also sang. Bhaswar Bandapadhaya recited a poem by Nazrul.