The three-day national level celebration marking the 117th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam began on May 25 at Darirampur in Trishal of Mymensingh, a locale rich with Nazrul's childhood memories.

The celebration, organised by Cultural Affairs Ministry and Mymensingh District administration at Darirampur Nazrul Moncha, will conclude today.

Nazrul, born at village Churulia of Bardwan district in West Bengal in India on May 25, 1899, stayed at Kazir Shimla and Darirampur in Trishal for a year and studied at Darirampur High School. Kazi Rafizullah, a police sub-inspector working at Bardwan in West Bengal then took Nazrul to his village Kazir Shimlal in 1913.

A series of programmes have been undertaken marking the celebrations that included colourful rallies, discussions, cultural shows, poet gatherings, staging of plays and dance performances.

A festive mood prevailed in Trishal and adjacent areas with the three-day fair titled 'Nazrul Mela' held to mark the occasion.

Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury inaugurated the celebration as the chief guest.

Minister for Religious Affairs principal Motiur Rahman, AL lawmaker advocate Muslem Uddin, Police Superintendent Moinul Haque, former-AL lawmaker Abdul Matin Sarker and Trishal upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Md Abu Zafar Ripon addressed the opening session chaired by Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh Mustakim Billah Faruqui. Professor Mohit Ul Alam, vice-chancellor of Jatiya Kabi Nazrul Islam University (JKNIU) in Trishal, presented a keynote speech at the inaugural ceremony.

The speakers said that Nazrul was a poet who struggled lifelong to establish a humane and secular society. Nazrul's huge volumes of work are replete with protests against oppression, repression, communalism, feudalism and colonialism, said the speakers.

Bangabandhu brought Nazrul to Bangladesh and honoured him as the National Poet –an honour was his due, they said.

Cultural shows on the opening ceremony that included renditions of Nazrul songs, dances and poetry recitation were performed by different cultural organisations of the district and outside.

Trishal Press Club also published a souvenir titled “Kandari Hushiar”.

Meanwhile, a three-day programme marking the celebration -- undertaken by the authorities of JKNIU, a culture-based university of the country, also began on the campus on May 25 afternoon. The programmes included placing of floral wreaths at the portrait of the poet, a colourful rally, seminars, cultural programmes and a photo exhibition on Nazrul.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim was the chief guest at the opening of the celebration chaired by vice-chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohit Ul Alam.