On his 48th death anniversary, calls grow to publish gazette notifying on Nazrul as National Poet

Tuesday marks the 48th death anniversary of Bangladesh’s national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, who was unanimously revered as the rebel poet’ and a pioneer for his enormous contributions to Bengali literature.

However, even after 52 years of independence and 47 years after his passing, the benevolent poet is yet to be gazetted as the ‘National Poet’ of Bangladesh, pointed out by several Nazrul-Sangeet artists, scholars, and enthusiasts who demanded the declaration of Nazrul as the ‘National Poet’ of the country.

Commemorating the life and works of the great poet, people from all walks of life, including his family members, and different educational, social, cultural, and political organisations paid floral tributes to the poet’s tomb beside the Dhaka University central mosque on Tuesday.

Different cultural institutions, including Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Bangla Academy, placed floral wreaths on the poet’s graveyard.

The President of the newly independent republic of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, invited Kazi Nazrul Islam to settle in Dhaka on 24 May 1972, with the permission of the Government of India. In 1972, the Bangladeshi government announced him as the ‘National Poet’; however, no formal gazette was released in response to the announcement.

During his stay in Bangladesh in February 1976, he was conferred Bangladeshi citizenship and an Honorary D.Litt. from the University of Dhaka in 1974, as well as the Ekushey Padak in 1976.

Demanding the official gazette on Nazrul’s status as the ‘National Poet’, renowned Nazrul singer Salahuddin Ahmed said, “His status as our ‘National Poet’ is general knowledge; however, no official notification or any other document regarding declaring Kazi Nazrul Islam as the national poet has been found anywhere, which is very shameful for our nation.”

Emphasising the importance of such official recognition, prominent Nazrul singer Ferdous Ara said, “Certifications and official documentation are required to establish any claim. A formal recognition is essential to secure Nazrul’s legacy and status as our great national poet.”

Born in Churulia village of Bardhawan in West Bengal, India, in 1899, Kazi Nazrul Islam had a brief 21-year literary career, during which he produced 2,600 songs, 600 poems, three books, and 43 essays, according to the Kabi Nazrul Institute.