The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speaker Barrister Mohammad Jamiruddin Sircar said yesterday that poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was a poet of humanity because he wrote not only to champion the cause of the nation but also to bring the equality of women and free them from oppression.

The Speaker was addressing a discussion meeting organised to mark the 109th birth anniversary of the poet at the Jatiya Press Club as chief guest.

The function was organised by the Bangladesh Sangskritik Academy. Presided over by Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, former VC of Dhaka University, the function was addressed by among others, by Shah Abdul Hannan, Shafiul Alam Prodhan, Poet Abdul Hye Sikder and Humayun Kabir Bepari.

Barrister Sircar said national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's writings inspired the people to fight for independence and uphold national culture and tradition. His writings on the greatness of the religion of Islam is liked also by those who are not believers of the same faith.

He said poet Nazrul wrote to liberate the oppressed people and on the equality of human more than half a century before others started talking about women's empowerment.

The poet also upheld the importance of various ethnic groups in Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi nationalism is based on respect for all ethnic groups living in Bangladesh.

Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said that Nazrul was like a banyan tree in the greater convergence of humanity. He said that during the British rule the Muslims were subjugated to inferior position in the society. Poet Nazrul through his writing inspired them to grow up again and assert themselves.

Shah Abdul Hannan, former secretary of the government, termed Nazrul as a poet of renaissance. He awakened the Muslims during his lifetime; his writings continue to awaken them after his death.

He underscored the need for reading the national poet's writings to get inspirations from those.

Poet Abdul Hye Sikder spoke on the life and works of the poet.