Four distinguished personalities have received Nazrul Padak-2024 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The recipients of the award are Dr Gulshan Ara Kazi and Anupam Hayat for research on Nazrul, and Dalia Nausheen and Salauddin Ahmed for Nazrul Sangeet.
Prime Minister's Advisor on Education and Cultural Affairs Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Soumitra Sekhar handed over the awards to the recipients at the National Poet’s 125th birth anniversary programme organised by the university at Kabi Sufia Kamal Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in the capital on Sunday. A brass medal, certificate and symbolic cheque were given to the recipients of the award.
As Dr Gulshan Ara Kazi is now staying abroad, University Treasurer Professor Dr Ataur Rahman received the award on her behalf.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Soumitra Shekhar greeted the guests on the podium with flowers and presented Uttariya to them. Then, Nazrul University Treasurer Prof Dr Ataur Rahman and Khilkhil Kazi, granddaughter of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, delivered their speeches as special guests.
In their brief speeches, the recipients of the Nazrul Padak-2024 have expressed their deep gratitude to the university administration.
In his speech as the chief guest, Prime Minister's Advisor Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury thanked the university administration for arranging the Nazrul Padak award ceremony.
He said, “I congratulate all those who have been awarded the Nazrul Padak by Nazrul University. In fact, the medal is the recognition of your Nazrul Sangeet practice and presenting the contribution of the beloved poet to the young generation. It is a great thing that Nazrul University is finding and rewarding such people.”
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Soumitra Shekhar said, “Today [Sunday] would be marked as one of the milestones for Nazrul University. Today, I am able to start the Nazrul Padak awarding ceremony at the national level. Hopefully, this ceremony of awarding the Nazrul Padak should continue in the future.”
Registrar of the University Md Humayun Kabir moderated the medal awarding ceremony. Rayhana Akhter, head of the Department of English Language and Literature, presented the short biographies of the awardees.
Deans of various faculties of the university, heads of departments and offices, teachers, officers, employees and students, among others, were present along with the guests. After the awarding ceremony, the students of the university performed an amazing cultural programme.
The 125th birth anniversary of Poet Nazrul was celebrated for four days by holding various programmes on the campus and in other areas. The birthday programme ended with the awarding of the Nazrul Padak.
