Nazrul’s pen was sharp weapon against colonialism, injustice: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday said that National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s pen was a sharp weapon against colonial rule, oppression, exploitation, inequality, discrimination, superstition and every form of injustice and ugliness.

'Nazrul was a rare genius whose influence has been immense throughout every stage of the nation’s life,' he said while virtually inaugurating the year-long ‘Nazrul Year 2026–2027’ programme at a meeting organised by the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday morning.

The prime minister also said, “Poet Nazrul Islam is one of those extraordinary individuals whose impact on our socio-economic, political, literary, cultural, moral and intellectual life is profound. From our adolescence to adulthood, Nazrul’s influence remains immeasurable.”

The government has declared the period from 25 May, 2026, to 25 May, 2027, as ‘Nazrul Year’.

It was also announced at the programme that the feasibility of declaring Trishal in Mymensingh, closely associated with the poet’s life and memories, as ‘Nazrul City’ is being examined.

Describing Kazi Nazrul Islam with various honorifics, the PM mentioned, "The Rebel Poet, the Poet of Love, the Poet of Youth, and the Poet of Bangladesh’s heritage, Kazi Nazrul Islam is an unforgettable name in the national literary and cultural history.”

“His emergence in the destiny of a subjugated, oppressed and defeated nation was like a guiding beacon,” he added.

“Whether revolutionary and patriotic songs, Islamic culture and values, devotional ‘Bhajans’ and ‘Kirtans’, ‘Shyama Sangeet’, love, nature, human values, the joys of childhood or the passion of youth, Nazrul gave us the purest expression in every sphere,” he further added.

Highlighting Nazrul as one of the foremost inspirations in cultivating love for the motherland, he said again that our lives, hopes, aspirations, dreams, struggles, literature, culture, history and heritage have found majestic expression in his writings.

“His creativity embraces people of all ages and all generations. He continues to inspire us to stand against injustice and oppression. His relevance will never diminish,” the PM continued.