DHAKA, May 24, 2023 (BSS) - President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid rich tributes to the memories of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on his 124th birth anniversary to be observed tomorrow.

In separate messages, they prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of the poet.

In his message, President Mohammed Shahabuddin said: "On the occasion of the 124th birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, I remember this short-lived poet with utmost respect."

The head of the state said the poet's fiery writings speak out for the rights of the exploited and deprived people and teach them to protest against injustice.

The songs and poems of the poet had greatly inspired the freedom-loving people during the War of Liberation, Shahabuddin said.

From his writings, people have been inspired in every democratic movement including anti-British movement, language movement, mass upsurge of 1969 and the Liberation War, he added.

The president hoped that the new generation will be able to enrich themselves by following the lifestyle of Nazrul and devote themselves to build a happy-prosperous Bangladesh with patriotism, honesty and devotion.

"I pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul of this poet," he continued.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said Poet Nazrul has enriched the literature, music and culture of the country through his writings.

She said Nazrul was the first Bengali poet who demanded complete independence of India from British rule.

In his literary works, the message of struggle against subjugation, communalism and imperialism has been uttered, the premier said, adding that possessing an extraordinary and versatile talent, Nazrul was a symbol of secularism and nationalism.

The greatest Bangalee of all time, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was devoted to poet Nazrul, she said.

In the post-independence period, the poet was brought from Kolkata to Bangladesh with the honor of National Poet as per the desire of Bangabandhu, she added.

"Poet Nazrul dreamt of establishing a non-communal, discrimination-free, exploitation-free and peaceful society and we find that reflection in the struggle and actions of the father of the nation," the premier said.

She believed Nazrul's work will play a role in building a non-communal, non-discrimination, peaceful, happy-prosperous and modern Bangladesh by removing all evil obstacles from the people's mindset.

She thought poet Nazrul's struggling life and his immortal works will be a source of endless inspiration for the Bangalee nation.

The president and the premier wished the overall success of all the programmes taken on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the national poet.