Cox’s Bazar marked the 164th birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and the 126th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam with a vibrant celebration featuring a discussion and cultural program.
The district Administration, in collaboration with the Cultural Centre and Shilpakala Academy, organized the events, which were held on Sunday morning at the auditorium of the Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre.
The program was presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Saiduzzaman Chowdhury, who in his speech said, “As a nation, we are globally recognized today because of luminaries like Rabindranath and Nazrul. Their contributions have enriched our literature, culture, and music immensely.”
The event was moderated by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate (Education & ICT) Mirza Md. Tawseef Sharif Snigdh. Two keynote presentations were delivered during the session: “The Uprising of 1924: Nazrul’s Legacy” by Associate Professor Shahidul Islam of Cox’s Bazar Government Women’s College, and “Tagore and Bangladesh” by Senior Teacher Sohel Iqbal of Cox’s Bazar Government Girls’ High School.
Among other speakers were the Director of the Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre, Mongshen Hla, District Education Officer Md. Golam Mostafa, President of Cox’s Bazar Press Club Mahbubur Rahman, President of the Cox’s Bazar Literary Academy Muhammad Nurul Islam, and Executive Director of the Nazrul Abbas Uddin Centre G.A.M. Ashek Ullah.
Students also participated in the discussions. Afiyat Ohi, a tenth-grade student of Cox’s Bazar Government Girls’ High School, and Tayzim Hossaini, a ninth-grade student, shared their reflections on the poets’ legacies.
The event drew a large audience, including officials from various government departments, teachers, students, and guardians from different educational institutions.
The celebration concluded with a cultural performance presented by artists from the Cultural Centre and Shilpakala Academy, paying tribute to the two iconic poets through music, dance, and poetry.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Courtesy
