30th death anniversary of our National Poet observed

Nazrul artistes perform at the event

A prize distribution ceremony for children's drawing competition was held on the first day of the programme. The second day saw the launching of 10 audio CDs (reproductions) featuring original versions of Nazrul songs. A discussion session and a cultural programme followed. Chief guest of the occasion, legendary singer Firoza Begum along with Nazrul exponents Asadul Haque and Sudhin Das and noted singer Rowshan Ara Mustafiz took part in the discussion. Dr Ashraf Siddiqi, chairperson, trustee board of Nazrul Institute presided over the function.

Firoza Begum shared her vast experience and struggle in the course of becoming a Nazrul singer. She congratulated Nazrul Institute for taking on the daunting task of collecting rare songs of the famous yesteryear singers and combining them into audio CDs. "Very soon we will have over 600 songs which would have been lost if not for the efforts of the institute," she concluded.

In the last leg of the programme, singers from the Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Porishad enticed the audience with their melodious renditions. They commenced with two choral renderings-- Khaybar joyee Ali Haider and Tolomol tolomol podobhore. Later Badrunessa Dalia sang Onek chilo bolar, Ataur Rahman sang Omon kore hashish na aar, and Shireen Akhtar sang Bolechiley tumi. Besides them, Shamsad Begum, Bipasha, Mahbubul Alam, Chhonda Chakrabati, Shaheed Kabir and Nasreen Jahan also took part.

On the last day of the programme on August 29, the Institute had arranged a discussion and cultural programme based on the documentary titled Chottogram-e Nazrul.