Gazette Approved to Declare Kazi Nazrul Islam National Poet
Although Kazi Nazrul Islam has long been recognized informally as the National Poet of Bangladesh, no official documentation supported this acknowledgment. The interim government has now approved a proposal to formally declare the rebel poet as Bangladesh’s "National Poet" through an official gazette notification.
The decision was made on Thursday during a meeting of the Advisory Council at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.
According to a press release from the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs initiated the proposal to officially recognize Kazi Nazrul Islam as the National Poet.
After Bangladesh’s independence, Kazi Nazrul Islam and his family were brought to the newly formed nation. The then-government arranged for his residence with state honors, providing him with a home in Dhaka's Dhanmondi. Since then, he has been widely referred to as the National Poet, though no official documentation existed to solidify this status until now.
Kazi Nazrul Islam is one of the foremost Bengali poets of the 20th century, celebrated as a poet, novelist, lyricist, composer, playwright, and editor. Despite working across various literary genres, his primary identity remains that of a poet.
Born on May 24, 1899 (11th Jaistha, 1306 in the Bengali calendar) in Churulia, a village in Asansol subdivision of Burdwan district in West Bengal, India, Nazrul's literary output during his brief 23-year career is unparalleled.
He was the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Jagattarini Gold Medal, Independence Award, Ekushey Padak, Padma Bhushan, and an honorary D.Litt. from the University of Dhaka.
In 1942, Nazrul suffered a severe neurological illness that abruptly ended his active life, rendering him completely detached from literary activities for the remaining 34 years of his life. In 1972, the Bangladesh government brought him and his family to Dhaka from Kolkata. He was granted Bangladeshi citizenship in 1976, the same year he passed away on August 29 (12th Bhadra, 1383 in the Bengali calendar).
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