The 28th National Poetry Festival began on the Dhaka University campus on Saturday with the slogan ‘Kabita Sahena Danab Jatana.’
Poet Syed Shamsul Huq inaugurated the two-day programme in front of the DU central library, organised by the National Poetry Council.
Syed Shamsul Huq said; “The festival was first celebrated before 27 years protesting Ershad government’s autocracy, terrorism, communalism and war-criminals.”
The council president poet Habibullah Siraji presided over the function while among others, the event Convener Muhammad Samad, Joint Convener Tarek Sujat and General Secretary Aslam Sani spoke on the occasion.
Following the session, a seminar on ‘Poetry in Scandinavian: A Bengali Reflection’ was held with DU professor emeritus Anisuzzaman in chair.
DU Professor Fakrul Alam, Swedish poet Kristian Carlsson and Norwegian poets Anre Ruth, Haideh Daragahi, John Y Jones spoke on the occasion.
Later, poets both from home and abroad recited self-composed poems in four sessions.
A total of 30 poets from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Italy, Syria, Australia and the USA will join the two-day festival with the participation of a large number of Bangladeshi poets. The council has been holding the festival since 1987.