An organisation named Gems of Nazrul has announced a new talent hunt competition titled ‘Agnibinay Notun Protibha’ to mark the 127th birth anniversary of Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, with registration set to begin on May 24 .
The announcement was made at a press conference held at Bengal Foundation in Dhaka on Monday. Organisers said the reality show will focus on discovering talented Nazrul Sangeet performers from across Bangladesh and bringing them onto a national platform.
Gems of Nazrul president and singer Sadia Afrin Mallik said the competition would officially begin on 24 May. “The aim of this show is to identify talented Nazrul Sangeet artistes scattered across different parts of Bangladesh and present them on a national stage,” she said.
Participants aged between 15 and 25 from all eight divisions of the country will be eligible to compete. Registration will remain open until June 30, with details available on the organisation’s website and Facebook page.
A total of 24 contestants selected from eight regions will take part in the grand finale in Dhaka.
The winner of the competition will receive a cheque worth Tk 20,000 along with a certificate and crest. The first runner-up will receive Tk15,000, while the second runner-up will receive Tk10,000, both accompanied by certificates and crests.
The judging panel will include Rajshahi University music department professor Asit Roy, Nazrul Sangeet artiste Yasmin Mushtari, singer Shelu Barua, Jagannath University music department teacher Mahmudul Hasan, singers Shahid Kabir, Bijon Mistry, Priyanka Gop and Paritosh Mondal. Singer Sumon Chowdhury will serve as head of the selection panel.
The event began with a one-minute silence in memory of late singer Dalia Nowshin. Members of James of Nazrul later performed the song ‘Ke Duronto Bajao Jhorer Byakul Bashi’.
