Nazrul Festival Led by Cumilla DC, Two Advisers to Attend

By Fahima Begum Priya, Cumilla: "I shall go away forever / Yet you shall not forget me..."—these immortal lines by National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam still echo through the skies and breeze of Cumilla. On the occasion of the poet’s 126th birth anniversary, a three-day national festival is set to begin in Cumilla, a city deeply entwined with Nazrul's life and memories. The event is being spearheaded by Cumilla’s Deputy Commissioner Md. Amirul Kaisar. Two advisers to the government—Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan—are scheduled to attend.

With the theme "The Mass Uprising of 1924: Nazrul’s Legacy", the festival will run from May 25 to 27, spreading Nazrul’s spirit across Cumilla. Events will be held at the District Shilpakala Academy and in Daulatpur, Muradnagar—a place rich with the poet’s memories.

According to the Cumilla district administration, all preparations have been completed. The festival will open on May 25 at 3 PM at the Cumilla District Shilpakala Academy. The opening ceremony will be chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Md. Mofidur Rahman, with a keynote address by Professor Salimullah Khan. Special guests include the Executive Director of the Nazrul Institute, Md. Latiful Islam Shibli, and the poet’s granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi.

On May 26, the event moves to Daulatpur in Muradnagar, where Nazrul shared an intimate chapter of his life with Nargis, also known as Asar Khanom. The closing ceremony on May 27 will be held back in Cumilla, with Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan attending as chief guest.

Cumilla occupies a central place in Nazrul’s life—love, marriage, arrest, poetry, and song all had roots here. The city’s landmarks like Kandirpar, Dhamrasagar, Town Hall, and the Khan residence in Daulatpur still bear traces of the poet’s presence. Many of his poems and songs were composed here.

However, locals have voiced concerns over neglect in preserving these historical sites. Md. Al Amin, the Nazrul Institute’s officer in charge for Cumilla, stated, “We are trying to preserve the heritage, but more government support is needed.”

Cultural activist Al Mamun and researcher ABM Atikur Rahman Bashar warned that many of these precious memories are at risk of being lost. They demand the establishment of a full-fledged cultural zone in Daulatpur that includes a Nazrul memorial center, a library, and a guesthouse.

Nazrul researcher Kazi Mahtab Sumon said, “Nazrul does not belong only to Churulia; he lives in the soul of Cumilla. The works he created here are a national treasure. This festival will help the new generation discover that legacy.”

DC Md. Amirul Kaisar said, “Nazrul is a vital chapter in Cumilla’s history. We are proud to celebrate his 126th birth anniversary at the national level.”