The people of Bangladesh are celebrating the golden jubilee of bringing national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and his family to Bangladesh on 24 May 2022. On this day in 1972, one day before the 73rd birth anniversary of the poet, after completing all the formalities, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam with his family to Bangladesh. On this occasion, the Postal Department has issued a commemorative stamp worth Tk. 10 (ten), an opening envelope worth Tk. 10 (ten), a data card worth Tk. 5 (five) and a special seal. The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Mr. Mostafa Jabbar on Tuesday unveiled the commemorative stamps and inaugural envelopes and released data cards and special seals at the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University in Mymensingh, where the poet’s memory is intertwined. The Minister issued a statement highlighting the significance of bringing the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and his family to Bangladesh.
In a statement, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications said that the two great souls whose names are essential in the realization of the cultural, political and economic rights of Bangla and Bengalis are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Kazi Nazrul Islam was a rebellious poet. And Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a ‘poet of politics’. Both were dreamers of independence, one is from Bangladesh and the other is from India. One has been imprisoned for speaking about the masses in the form of poetry,the other has been imprisoned for fighting for the masses. One is a great leader and the other is a great poet. Both of them have spoken fiercely, in songs and speeches. These two great leaders were firmly committed to building a non-communal society against caste and religion.
The rebellious poet uttered ‘মোরা এক বৃন্তে দুটি কুসুম হিন্দু-মুসলমান/মুসলিম তার নয়ন-মণি হিন্দু তাহার প্রাণ।‘ (We, the Hindus and the Muslims are the two flowers from a same stalk/ where Muslim are the eye-jewels and Hindus are the souls). Similarly, Bangabandhu said, ‘বাঙালি-অবাঙালি হিন্দু-মুসলমান সবাই আমাদের ভাই, তাদের রক্ষা করার দায়িত্ব আমাদের।’ (Bengalis or non-Bengalis, Hindus or Muslim, are all our brothers, We have a responsibility to protect them.)
The telecom minister and a former student of Bangla Department of Dhaka University mentioned in a statement that, the national poet of Bangladesh arrived in Dhaka on May 24, 1972, a day before the poet’s 73rd birthday, which was scheduled to be celebrated with joy in the state. Bangabandhu himself chose a bungalow house for the poet and named the house ‘Kabibhavan’. Shortly after the poet reached at Dhanmondi’s residence, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesha came to Dhanmondi’s Kabi Bhavan to pay homage to the poet along with Mujib. Later, on the orders of Bangabandhu, the national poet was given the nationality of Bingbangladesh and the national flag was hoisted at ‘Kabi Bhaban’ to honor him. Referring to Minister Kazi Nazrul Islam as an incomparable resource of Bengali intellect, he said, “He is one of the legends of Bengali literature. The dignity and importance of Kazi Nazrul Islam in the twentieth century Bengali mind is immense. As a poet, writer, musician, journalist, editor, politician and soldier, he was uncompromising against injustice in any form.” The minister further mentioned that his entrance with a fiery harp in hand was like a comet. He said Bangabandhu recognized the song ‘Chal Chal Chal’ by Nazrul as the war song of the country.
Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University Vice Chancellor D r. Soumitra Shekhar, Additional Secretary of Postal and Telecommunication Department Selima Sultana, Director General of Bangla Academy Poet Nurul Huda, Director General of Postal Department Md. Siraj Uddin were present on the occasion.
Later, the Minister inaugurated the book fair and photo exhibition organized on the occasion and unveiled the cover of the book titled ‘Nazrul’s Arrival in Bangabandhu’s Bangladesh’.