BNP acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday said former President Ziaur Rahman gave Kazi Nazrul Islam official and institutional recognition as the national poet of Bangladesh.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion and cultural programme titled “Ami Hobo Sokal Belar Pakhi”, organised as part of the Nazrul Barsha celebrations at the National Theatre Hall in Segunbagicha in the capital in the evening.
BNP govt remains popular despite propaganda, PM even more popular: Rizvi
Rizvi said a true statesman is someone who can identify who is moving ahead and who is being left behind in society and take appropriate measures accordingly.
“Bangladesh witnessed the emergence of such a statesman in the form of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman,” he said, adding that he had realised that national progress was impossible without the mental and cultural development of children.
“That is why he introduced popular children’s competitions such as ‘Notun Kuri’ on Bangladesh Television,” the BNP leader said, adding that many renowned artistes and actors of the country emerged from that platform.
Speaking about Nazrul’s literary works, he said Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was undoubtedly a great poet, but Nazrul’s contribution to children’s literature and to shaping the minds of children and young people was unique and unparalleled.
Rizvi said Nazrul had also inspired the younger generation to break free from shackles and advance in science and knowledge.
He said Ziaur Rahman also possessed a subtle and poetic mind like that of a poet. “That is why he was able to realise that the culture of this country would remain incomplete without Nazrul,” he said.
The BNP acting secretary general said Ziaur Rahman had honoured Nazrul by giving him appropriate and authentic state recognition as the national poet.
Referring to the current social context, Rizvi said drug abuse and criminal activities have gripped the society.
“To protect children, adolescents and young people from such crimes and social degradation, we need to increase the practice and study of Nazrul,” Rizvi said.
Nazrul’s songs, poems and philosophy purify the mind and teach people to protest against injustice, he added.