The 117th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be celebrated across the country on Wednesday.

Born on May 25, 1899 at village Churulia in Burdwan district of West Bengal in India, Nazrul through his fiery poems had inspired people to fight against injustice and repression of the colonial rule.

Different eminent personalities, politicians, academicians, cultural personalities, family members of the poet, poetry lovers and people in general will pay homage to the ‘rebel poet’ at his grave on the Dhaka University (DU) premises in the morning.

Different organizations, including the DU and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, have taken various programmes like seminar, discussion and cultural events, on the occasion.

DU teachers, students, officials and employees, led by its Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, will gather at Aparajeya Bangla at 9:30am.

Later, they will march towards the Mazar of Nazrul in a procession where the DU VC, on behalf of the university, will show respect to him by placing a wreath at his grave.

A discussion meeting will be held at RC Majumdar Arts Auditorium on the campus at 11am.

Nazrul Academy has arranged a four-day programme on the occasion beginning on Tuesday at its Moghbazar office.

An evening of recitation and songs by Khilkhil Kazi and Salauddin Ahmed will be held at 6:30pm on Friday at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages highlighting the colourful life of the poet and his contributions to Bangla language and literature.

In his message, the President said, “Nazrul’s write-ups inspired us to join all democratic movements and battles, including the anti-British movement, the Language Movement, the mass upsurge in 1969, and the Liberation War.”

He expressed his belief that the new generation will enrich themselves through practising Nazrul ideals, and play a meaningful role in building a happy and prosperous ‘Golden Bangla’ with their patriotism, sincerity and honesty.

In her message, the Prime Minister said Nazrul has shown the path to the youth to go ahead breaking shackles and conquer unknown things.