DHAKA, Oct 12 — A high-level international seminar celebrating the enduring legacy of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and exploring his immense potential as Bangladesh’s global cultural ambassador was held at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road on Monday.
The symposium, titled “Kazi Nazrul Islam: The Universal Voice of Humanity and Freedom,” was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs as part of broader initiatives marking the ongoing “Nazrul Year.”
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, MP, attended the seminar as the chief guest, while State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, MP, and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, MP, delivered remarks as special guests. The speakers highlighted the profound humanistic core of Nazrul’s literary works, his unyielding resistance against oppression, and his enduring relevance in contemporary statecraft and society.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Dr. Mosharraf Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, expounded on the philosophical universality of the poet’s canon. Eminent poet and former executive director of the Nazrul Institute, Abdul Hai Shikdar, participated as a designated discussant, analyzing Nazrul’s anti-colonial ethos, pluralism, and global resonance.
The event drew an audience of heads of diplomatic missions stationed in Dhaka, distinguished academics, literary scholars, Nazrul researchers, cultural figures, and senior civil servants.
Panelists emphasized that the symposium marked a crucial step not only in contextualizing Nazrul’s foundational contribution to Bangladeshi national identity, but also in elevating his philosophy of universal brotherhood, freedom, and egalitarianism before the international community through active cultural diplomacy.
The strategic outreach by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms Bangladesh’s commitment to project its rich literary heritage on the global stage, advancing Nazrul’s timeless ideals of justice and inclusivity. The academic deliberations concluded with a cultural rendition inspired by the immortal compositions of the rebel poet.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dhaka), Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Dhaka)