Today marks the 50th death anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam, the poet of love, equality, and rebellion. He passed away in Dhaka on 12 Bhadro in the Bengali calendar year 1383.

Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on 11 Jaistha, 1306 BS, in the village of Churulia in West Bengal's Burdwan district. Affectionately nicknamed "Dukhu Miah," he grew up facing severe hardship from early childhood.

During a remarkably prolific creative life spanning just 23 years, he left behind countless timeless creations across poetry, songs, novels, short stories, plays, and essays. His literary works powerfully championed equality, humanity, love, freedom, and fierce resistance against injustice. His poetry and songs also ignited a spirit of resistance among the people during the anti-British movement.

National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was simultaneously a poet, musician, novelist, short story writer, playwright, essayist, journalist, filmmaker, singer, and actor. He elevated the realm of Bengali music to a prestigious standing by creating a vast array of diverse musical modes and ragas.

Nazrul was the eternal poet of love and the herald of youth. He embraced love and sought love; while primarily known as a rebel, his romantic persona is legendary. It was this dual nature that allowed him to effortlessly express, "I search for the one closer to me than my very own self, within my own soul."

Following Bangladesh's independence, with the permission of the Indian government, the poet and his family were brought to Bangladesh on May 24, 1972. He was bestowed with the status of the National Poet of Bangladesh.

Dhaka University awarded him an honorary D.Litt degree in 1974. He acquired Bangladeshi citizenship in 1976 and was honored with the Ekushey Padak on February 21 of the same year.

The government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has declared a year-long "Nazrul Year" spanning from May 25, 2026, to May 25, 2027.

Consequently, various government and private institutions have organized year-long programs surrounding this year's commemoration of the poet's death anniversary.

The poet drew his final breath at the then-PG Hospital on 12 Bhadro, 1383 BS. Honoring his immortal wish—"Dig my grave beside the mosque, brother, so that even from the grave I may hear the Muezzin's call to prayer"—the National Poet of Bangladesh was laid to rest beside the northern side of the Dhaka University Central Mosque.