Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy inaugurated the nationwide celebration of the poet’s 158th birth anniversary with the tagline ‘Manobik Bishwa Binirmane Rabindranath’. Education Minister Dipu Moni inaugurated the celebration in the afternoon.
Cultural Affairs Minister KM Khalid chaired the programme while Bangla Academy President Dr Anisuzzaman, educationist and literary researcher Dr Sanjida Khatun, cultural ministry’s acting Secretary Dr Md Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal and Liberation War Museum Trustee Mofidul Haque shared their thoughts on the poet, his influences on Bangladesh and his literary creations.
Dipu Moni said Tagore was a lifelong friend of Bangladesh, even before the nation was born.
“He and our father of nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt the same dream about the nation which we refer to as ‘Sonar Bangla’, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working towards achieving that,” she said.
Anisuzzaman said that Rabindranath was universal as a Bengali poet, and was one of the best humanitarians the world has ever seen.
It was announced that his 158th birth anniversary will be celebrated all over the country including places such as Shilaidaha, Shahzadpur, Patishar, Dakhsindihi and Pithabhog which are connected to the poet in many different ways.
Later, a cultural programme was organised by Shilpakala Academy with performances by prominent artists.
Renowned singer Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna, Lily Islam, Sajid Akbar, Mahadeb Ghosh performed Tagore songs and prominent dancer Shibli Azad-Shamim Ara Nipa along with their team presented dance performances.