Keeping in mind the public life of Teesta riverbank, river-centric culture, history of small paper practice and contribution of the northern region to Bengali literature, a day-long "Teesta Poetry and Littlemag Chat" was held on the Teesta riverbank, in Rangpur on Friday.  Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS) - Keeping in mind the public life of Teesta riverbank, river-centric culture, history of small paper practice and contribution of the northern region to Bengali literature, a day-long "Teesta Poetry and Littlemag Chat" was held on the Teesta riverbank, in Rangpur on Friday. 
 
The colorful programme began with a procession and national anthem at Teesta Hotel at Mohipur point on Teesta riverbank under Gangachara upazila of the district at 9:30 am. 

At 10 am, poet and essayist and Commandant of Range Reserve Force (RRF), Rangpur, Additional DIG Md Abdur Razzak, spoke as the opening speaker in the discussion titled "Small paper practice in Bangladesh and contribution of the northern region". 

The chief guest was poet, novelist, translator and NCTB member Professor Dr Masudul Haque. 

Poet and essayist Saikat Habib participated in the discussion. 

Poet Qayyum Khan delivered the welcome address. 

The programme was presided over by poet, editor and publisher and general secretary of 'Firedekha' Shakil Masud. 

At the programme, the guests unveiled the covers of two books, 'Chhotakagaj Kachakanchi' and 'Bhanglo Dadur Thang'. 

In the first part of the poetry section 'Kabikanthe' at 11 am, more than 100 poets including Ibrahim Azad, Razzak Dulal, Ahmed Moudud, Masum Morshed, Farhaduzzaman Faruk, Nil Ratan Sarkar, Nishikant Roy, Nahida Yasmin, Nazmul Haque Badal, Jasmine Nahar, Nazira Jahan, Tanu Akhter, Ismat Ara, KM Ali Samrat, Safa Sultana, Roksana Siddique, Jinat Hossain Sumi and Sharif Ur Rahman from different districts of the country recited poems. 

Ahmed Moudud presided over this session and poet Reza Haque moderated. 

A discussion titled "People and Life of the Teesta riverbank" was held at 12 noon. 

The main discussant was poet, fiction writer and researcher Rana Masud. 

Literary editor of 'Firedekha' and assistant professor of Government Teachers Training College, Babul Sarkar, participated in the discussion. 
 

Poet Tapas Mahmud, president of 'Firedekha', presided. 

The second 'Kabikanthe' poetry session began at 2:30 pm. 

Songs were performed in this session by Nil Ratan Sarkar and KM Ali Samrat. 

Poems were recited by poets Irshad Jamil, Razzak Dulal, Ziaul Alam Farooqui and others. 

The session was presided over by poet and writer Emaduddin Ahmed. 

The moderators were Al Amin Islam and Sumi. 

At 3:30 pm, Bangladesh Betar Rangpur Regional Director Md Abdur Rahim and poet Saikat Habib spoke as guests in the closing session. 

Former president of 'Firedekha' Emaduddin Ahmed presided. 

In their closing remarks, the speakers said that Teesta is not just a river; it is a symbol of the life, struggle and creativity of the people of the northern region. 

This region has been making an important contribution to the national literary heritage for a long time through the 'Chhotakagoj' movement and poetry practice. 

This entire event was organized with the aim of making the lives and struggles of the people along the banks of the Teesta River more relevant in literature.