DE News Desk :
Renowned Nazrul Sangeet artist Shabnam Mushtari and literary scholar Professor Anwarul Haque have been named recipients of the Bangla Academy’s prestigious Nazrul Award 2025, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the promotion and study of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s legacy.
The awards will be formally presented on Sunday during the academy’s Nazrul Jayanti celebrations, commemorating the 126th birth anniversary of the Rebel Poet.
Each recipient will receive a cash prize of Tk 100,000, along with a commemorative plaque and an honorary scarf, the academy announced in a press release on Saturday.
Shabnam Mushtari rose to prominence in the 1960s as a pioneering voice in Nazrul Sangeet. Her celebrated performances on television and multiple recorded albums helped popularize Nazrul’s music across generations.
Among her most acclaimed works is the LP Laili Tomar Eshechhe Phiriya, released by HMV and now preserved in the Library of Congress in the United States.
She was also honored with the Ekushey Padak in 1997 for her lifelong dedication to Nazrul’s musical heritage.
Mushtari comes from a family of Nazrul exponents — her sisters Yasmin Mushtari and Parveen Mushtari are also accomplished performers of Nazrul Sangeet.
Professor Anwarul Haque, born in Cumilla’s Mogoltuli in 1952, is a seasoned academic and researcher. A former literature student at Chittagong University, he has spent decades immersed in Nazrul studies.
His scholarly work and teaching career have significantly advanced academic understanding of Nazrul’s literary and philosophical contributions.
Nazrul Jayanti Celebrations
The Bangla Academy has planned a full day of events on Sunday to mark Nazrul Jayanti. The day will begin with floral tributes at the poet’s grave, followed by a seminar at 4 PM at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium.
The seminar will feature a keynote presentation by Jaglul Asad, assistant professor of English at Government Saadat College, titled “Nandan’s Banshri and Turja: Some Aspects of Nazrul’s Literary Thoughts.”
Bangla Academy Director General Prof Mohammad Azam will deliver the welcome speech.
The celebration will conclude with a cultural programme, including a performance of the musical drama Dekhbo Ebar Jagat Take, highlighting Nazrul’s enduring influence on Bengali culture.