Is Kazi Nazrul Islam the national poet of Bangladesh?

Who is the national poet of Bangladesh? You may answer that Kazi Nazrul Islam is the national poet of Bangladesh. But there is no recognized national poet in Bangladesh. Do not be surprised, the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh never declared Kazi Nazrul Islam the national poet.

So why do people recognize Kazi Nazrul Islam as the national poet of Bangladesh?

It is found in some reported articles, that on December 15, 1929, Kazi Nazrul Islam was given a reception at Albert Hall in Kolkata on behalf of the people of Bengal. Many dignitaries, including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Sher-e Bangla Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq, attended the ceremony in which Kazi Nazrul Islam was honored with a national award. This is the story behind people call Kazi Nazrual Islam is the national poet of Bangladesh. But 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.

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Advocate Md Asad Uddin submitted a petition

Inspite of no official acknowledgement, people of all sectors in Bangladesh have been considering Kazi Nazrul Islam is their national poet and every one of the nation has taken it from their heart. On June 22, 2022, realising the public interest, the scenario and its probale negative inpact in the future, a group of 10 Supreme Court lawyers of Bangladesh including advocate Md Asad Uddin submitted a writ petition to the High Court demanding an official declaration by the government regarding on the issue— Kazi Nazrul Islam is the national poet of Bangladesh.

Rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam

The High Court issued a rule to declare Kazi Nazrul Islam the national poet

The High Court issued a rule on July 20, 2022, 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”. A bench consisted of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel issued the rule following a writ petition filed by 

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.

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Hope the concern authority will take step in this regard and issue a gazette notification declaring Kazi Nazrul Islam as the national poet of Bangladesh.

A big thanks to Md Asad Uddin and his goup of colleagues who submitted the writ petition on behalf of Bangladeshi people; all of the Bangladeshi people including me are grateful to them.