The main event of Dhaka International Poets Summit 2019 concluded on Thursday at the National Art Gallery Auditorium of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The Summit was hosted by Kathak, Bangladesh - a poetry initiative - that organized the summit for the fifth consecutive year.
Minister of Information Dr Hasan Mahmud was the chief guest of the event. He thanked Kathak for such an immense initiative in our country and the foreign poets for their interests in Bangladesh.
The Poets Summit is focused on gathering poets and poetry lovers together to define a path for the multilingual development and propagation of the poetic arts in Bangladesh and other countries of the world. Among the international poets featured in this year's summit there were Ali Al Shalah from Iraq, Annabel Villar and Julio Pavanetti from Uruguay, Kama Sywor Kamanda from Congo, Malim Ghozali PK from Malaysia, Tianxin Cai from China and Claire Booker from Great Britain. All of them were awarded the Kathak Literary Award 2019 for their extraordinary contribution to world literature.
Claire Booker from Great Britain told the Dhaka Tribune about her experience of the Dhaka International Poets Summit: "This is my first visit in Bangladesh. I have been to a number of 'gatherings of poets' within the British Isles, but this one is my first international summit. The way the Summit's activities have been designed, it gives you a sense of what made Bangladesh the way it is. It was very moving to look upon the National Martyr's Memorial. While we were visiting, we were told the reason for the memorial's existence, and I got a grasp, on the importance of the Bangladeshi identity for the people who live here. I did not get to see many migrating birds to be honest, but I did get to see a lot of scenic beauty of Bangladesh, like the lakes in Jahangirnagar or the rivers I saw over the flight here. I was very happy to get some background on the people for whom I read poetry in this summit."
Regarding the Kathak Literary Award Claire has received, she said: "It was overwhelming. I think that poetry at this day and age is not as revered as it is here. As poets we write in the shadows, really. But then, here I am receiving an award from the Information Minister of Bangladesh, with many people watching. It was a wonderful feeling and the gesture was very heartwarming. It is something I will remember for the rest of my life."
Among the eminent poets of Bangladesh who graced this year's Summit, were Asad Chowdhury, Hayat Saif, Mohammad Nurul Huda, Habibullah Sirajee, Jahidul Huq, Mustafa Pasha, Aminur Rahman and Maksudul Ahsan. Each poet was also given a colourful sash along with their award.
After the opening remarks and few recitations, three new books were launched at the summit. The first book was titled “Dhaka Anthology of World Poetry 2019,” an initiative from Bangladesh, where the work of 66 important contemporary poets from 34 countries have been compiled together to give a wide spectrum of creativity to readers and listeners. This book was edited by poet Aminur Rahman and Bilkis Mansoor.
The second, titled "Bishho Shera Samakaleen Kobider Kobita" consisted of the poems authored by the seven visiting poets of this year's Summit. The poems of this book were translated and edited by Aminur Rahman.
The third book, "Poetry and Painting” is a poetry anthology of the poets featured in this year's summit. Each poem has an accompanying image of a painting, by renowned painter Maksudul Ahsan. The paintings were inspired from the poems, and are exhibited grandly, with their inspiration, on the second floor of National Art Gallery.
The event ended with more recitations from the poets. What was noteworthy was the packed crowd in front of the auditorium and also within, as poetry lovers from all walks of life, came to listen to poetry recitations, and get a glimpse of the international poets.
An expatriate, from Toronto, Delara Nahar Babu shared few thoughts about this year's Summit to Dhaka Tribune: "When I attended this summit, I felt I was really in the world I belong to. I deeply felt each poem that was recited today. I also felt happy to see so many different international poets visiting Bangladesh and sharing their poetry with us. I really want all poets to continue their art, so I may forever enjoy the world of poetry."