Tagore University of Creative Arts (TUCA) has brought Kazi Nazrul Islam’s literary and musical legacy to the stage through a creative dance competition and cultural programme marking Nazrul Year.
The university’s Department of Dance organised the event on 3 November at the Fazlul Huq Auditorium, bringing together artists, academics, students and cultural figures to celebrate the National Poet’s ideals of equality, humanity and communal harmony.
The programme began with a creative dance competition at 11am and concluded with a prize-giving ceremony and special dance performances at 4.30pm.
Robin Khan, chairman of TUCA’s Board of Trustees, attended as the chief guest. Special guests included Mina Mohammad Nazrul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Folk Culture Society and a researcher and dance choreographer; recitation artiste Tito Munshi; and playwright Masum Reza.
A panel of three judges assessed the competition. They were Dr Shoma Mumtaz, associate professor of the Department of Drama and Dramatics at Jahangirnagar University; Dr Sydur Rahman Lipon, head of TUCA’s Department of Theatre; and Dr Md Arifur Rahman, head of the university’s Department of Music.
Addressing the programme, Robin Khan highlighted the importance of passing Nazrul’s cultural and humanist values on to younger generations.
He said the university would continue arranging cultural activities to encourage students to develop their creative abilities.
Saju Ahmed, resource person at TUCA’s Department of Dance, said the competition aimed to express the artistic richness, humanist values and cultural diversity of Nazrul’s works through dance.
He added that such initiatives could strengthen students’ creativity and understanding of the poet’s artistic vision.
The university has also taken steps to encourage wider engagement with Nazrul’s work. In August, it established a dedicated ‘Nazrul Corner’ at its central library to mark the 50th death anniversary of the poet.
The space aims to encourage students, teachers and researchers to explore Nazrul’s literature, music and philosophy.
