KHULNA, May 25, 2024 (BSS) - Khulna City Corporation (KCC) mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque has said that the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam never differentiated religious views in his poetry and he was deadly against the racial segregation in his writings as well.

The KCC mayor was addressing the inaugural function of a two-day long celebration programme of the 125th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam with the theme of 'Oshamprodayik Chetona ebong Nazrul' (Nazrul and his sense of communal harmony and secularism) at Khulna Shilpokola Academy here this evening as the chief guest.

The mayor called for unity of all sections of people believes in the spirit of Bengali nationalism, secularism and the Bengali cultural conscience to fight extremism and religious militants.

Speaking on the occasion as the guest of honour, the lawmaker of Khulna-3 constituency S M Kamal Hossain said that most of the poems of Nazrul are based on communal harmony and secularism along with inspiring the great Liberation War and all democratic movements and struggles.

He also urged all to hold Nazrul in their hearts and called the new generation to carry out research works on the poet Nazrul and practice his poetry.

With the assistance of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Khulna District Administration organised the discussion and cultural programme.

Chaired by Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Khandaker Yasir Arefin, Abul Fazal Associate Professor, Department of Bangla of Khulna University (KU), addressed as keynote speaker.

Superintendent of Police Mohammad Saidur Rahman and ex-Commander of City unit Muktijoddha Command Council Professor Md. Alamgir Kabir addressed as special guests while General Secretary of Nazrul Academy Masud Mahmud delivered the welcome speech.