Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the slogan ‘Joy Bangla’ came from rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and it is the slogan of the entire nation. She said this while inaugurating a new Nazrul Institute in Comilla yesterday, reports UNB.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister called upon all concerned to conduct more research about the rebel poet, and to encourage the current generation to appreciate his work.
Hasina noted that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had taken the historic cry of “Joy Bangla,” which inspired millions during the Liberation War and remains the Awami League's rallying call, from a Nazrul poem.
She also made reference to a previous initiative during AL's last term to set up a Nazrul Institute in Comilla, from where the national poet's wife Pramila Devi is from, alleging that the BNP-Jamaat government abandoned the initiative as a political retaliation.
Nazrul visited Comilla five times, often for long stays, during which he composed some of his famous songs such as: "Akarun priya," "Shesher gaan," "Bedonamoni" and "Lakkhichhara."
The prime minister urged the authorities concerned to work with utmost sincerity and honesty to protect the Nazrul Institute.
The cultural affairs minister Abul Kalam Azad, the railway minister Mujibul Haque, the cultural affairs secretary Ranjit Kumar Biswas and the chairman of the institute Rashid Haidar also spoke on the occasion.
