Nazrul Centre Paris highlights national poet's legacy, July uprising spirit

The National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Centre Paris celebrated "Nazrul Year 2026-27," which the Bangladesh government declared, in France.

The organisation hosted a seminar on Monday in the ballroom of a four-star hotel in the Boulogne-Billancourt area of greater Paris to mark the occasion.

The seminar commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran, and Latiful Islam Shibli, executive director of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Centre, declared the inauguration virtually from Dhaka. 

Shibli said that the previous fascist regime deliberately sidelined Nazrul and permitted very little discussion regarding the national poet. 

He added that people must re-comprehend the background and relevance of Nazrul's spirit in light of the changes that the July 2024 uprising brought about.

He further noted that autocrats, tyrants and fascist rulers have always feared Nazrul's thoughts and literature. 

Consequently, authorities attempted over the past 16 years to suppress Nazrul and constrict the practice and study of his works.

Faisal Ahmad Chowdhury, chairman of the Baraka Group, attended the seminar as the chief guest, while Ireland-based poet and columnist Dr Zinnurain Jaigirdar served as the keynote speaker. 

Ishrat Flora, cultural secretary of the Nazrul Centre, presented the seminar paper, and organisation member Zakir Khan recited poetry.

Chief guest Faisal Ahmad Chowdhury remarked that French expatriates deserved praise for organising an event centered on National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and the July uprising despite their busy schedules abroad. He expressed hope that such initiatives would further strengthen the connection of expatriate Bangladeshis with the country's history, culture and values.

Sohel Ahmad, president of the France branch of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Centre and a poet, presided over the event. Nazmul Haque, secretary of the organisation, and Zaima Nahiyan Khandaker, education and training secretary, jointly conducted the session.

Khorshed Alam Patwary, advisor to the organisation and a Nazrul researcher, spoke at the seminar, stating that National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is not only a poet of rebellion but also of love, equality, humanity and secular spirit. 

He noted that Nazrul's literature, music and philosophy continue to inspire people to raise their voices against injustice and walk the path of humanity.

Organisers also screened a documentary exhibition on the poet's life during the event.

Leaders from various political, social, cultural and business sectors of the Bangladeshi community in France attended the seminar. 

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Attendees included Muhammad Arif Ullah, spokesperson for FBJA; politician Rezaul Karim; activist Mohammad Ali Chowdhury; activist Monowar Patwary; Faisal Ahmed, proprietor of Aid Point; and theatre worker Shoeb Mozammel, alongside other community figures.

Organisers stated that the seminar aimed to present Nazrul's spirit of equality, humanity, secularism and protest against injustice to the younger generation while discussing its linkage with the spirit of the July uprising.