The High Court today (July 20, 2022) issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why they should not be directed to issue a gazette notification, officially declaring Kazi Nazrul Islam as "National Poet of Bangladesh".

Cultural affairs secretary, director general of Bangla Academy and executive director of Nazrul Institute have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in four weeks.

The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel issued the rule following a writ petition filed by 10 Supreme Court lawyers seeking its directive on the government on the matter.

The lawyers, including Md Asad Uddin, submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC on June 22 this year, saying that there is no official acknowledgement that Kazi Nazrul Islam is the national poet of Bangladesh although all citizens of the country know that he is the national poet.

Citing some reported articles, the petitioners said in the petition that on December 15, 1929, Nazrul was accorded a reception at Albert Hall in Kolkata on behalf of the people of Bengal. Many distinguished persons, including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Sher-e Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, attended the programme where Kazi Nazrul Islam was accorded national felicitation.

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There is no official or state acknowledgement that Nazrul is the national poet, they said in the petition.    

Advocate Asad Uddin moved the petition while Assistant Attorney General Abul Kalam Khan represented the state during hearing of the petition.