Kazi Nazrul Islam

Ministry-backed rock album to feature 20 bands celebrating Nazrul

The album is being produced under the supervision of the Kabi Nazrul Institute. According to Latiful Islam Shibli, the institute's executive director and a renowned writer and lyricist, the album will feature performances by 20 leading bands from the country and is expected to be released within the next six months.

Indian High Commission celebrates Nazrul’s legacy

The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) of the Indian High Commission organised a musical evening dedicated to Shyama Sangeet by Kazi Nazrul Islam. The event took place yesterday afternoon.

ESSAY / On the national anthem of Bangladesh: An apologetic discourse (part two)

The question here should be: Why does the nationality of the poet matter if the sentiment and emotional dimensions are the central focus that keeps the dynamic of a national anthem active?

POETRY / The wheel of change

Eternity collapses at the wheel of change. / Past is lost

ESSAY / Bangladesh’s writers on Wikipedia: Abbasuddin Ahmed and Humayun Kabir

If such writers lived in, and contributed to the literary legacy of, other countries, I will offer a compromise and propose a hyphenated identity.

Sporshia to portray Nazrul's wife in upcoming Tollywood biopic

A film about the national poet of Bangladesh is currently being produced in West Bengal. Tollywood producer Abdul Alim is behind the project, which is titled “Kazi Nazrul Islam”.

POETRY / Swapane eshechilo mridubhashini

Translated by Mohammad Shafiqul Islam

Bangladesh honours Kazi Nazrul Islam's enduring legacy on 48th death anniversary

Today, August 27, marks the 48th death anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam, a day of reflection and tribute across the nation. Among the many commemorations, Desh Natok, a prominent theatre group, will stage two plays at the Bangladesh Mahila Samiti to honour the legendary poet.

Adila Noor’s tribute to Kazi Nazrul Islam in Melbourne

Recently, the Chandler Community Centre in Melbourne came alive with the programme titled "Shompurno Nazrul" — a solo musical event presented by the musical organisation Surlok.

May 23, 2022
May 23, 2022

The Islamic strain in Kazi Nazrul Islam

Nazrul’s iconic poem uses both Islamic lore as well as Hindu myths to rebel against all that dehumanises and discriminates against human beings.

May 22, 2022
May 22, 2022

Bohemian tales of the rebel poet

From Churulia, Bardhaman to Dhanmondi, Dhaka. And so many places in between - College Street, Taltola Lane, CIT Road. And of course Kolkata, dear city. During his lifetime, the bohemian poet Kazi Nazrul Islam wandered and dwelled in many places. On his birthday, we look at those towns, cities, and localities bearing his memories.

September 2, 2021
September 2, 2021

Radio, ghazals, and “Islami gaan”: What Nazrul’s shift to music said about his syncretism

The adoption of the ghazal by Nazrul, with renewed fervour in the late ’20s and ’30s, signaled an understanding that his earlier literary and linguistic world was an impermanent one, as was a politics in which the unity of Hindus and Muslims was achieved through an appeal to a shared culture and language.

August 27, 2021
August 27, 2021

Nazrul, Rabindranath, and Their Admiration for Each Other

Today is the 45th death anniversary of the younger of the two icons.

October 9, 2019
October 9, 2019

38th Death Anniversary: Qazi Motahar Hossain- A pundit of versatile knowledge

While learning how to subtract and multiply, a boy surprised his uncle, Kazi Abul Hossain, by discovering the rules of division in advance. Later, this young boy gained fame as the first statistician, scientist, educator, chess player and prominent literary figure of

August 27, 2019
August 27, 2019

Nazrul’s 43rd death anniversary observed

The 43rd death anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam has been observed in a befitting manner.

May 25, 2019
May 25, 2019

Kazi Nazrul Islam and Our Struggle for Emancipation

I am a poet of the present, and not a prophet of the future. […] My birth in this country and this society does not mean that I shall remain constricted and confined to them. No, I belong to all countries and to the entirety of humanity. —Kazi Nazrul Islam

August 25, 2017
August 25, 2017

The Poet of Non-Conformity

Kazi Nazrul's legacy as the Rebel Poet was well established during the colonial era. Openly dissenting against the British dominion in India, he was also critical of the Indian Independence Movement, and disagreed with Gandhi's non-violent acts of civil disobedience.

August 10, 2016
August 10, 2016

Sadya Afreen, Prof Abu Hena to get Nazrul Award

The prestigious Nazrul Award 2015 is to be accorded to Nazrul Sangeet exponent Sadya Afreen Mallick and Professor Abu Hena Abdul Awal.

May 27, 2016
May 27, 2016

Star Melodies soiree on Tuesday

Star Melodies, The Daily Star's regular initiative to promote Bangla music, is set to hold a musical evening on Tuesday, May 31 at the AS Mahmud Seminar Hall of The Daily Star Centre, marking National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's 117th birth anniversary.