The 41st death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, popularly known as Bidrohi Kobi, was observed on Sunday with due respect.
 
The poet passed away in Dhaka on August 27, 1976 at the age of 77 after suffering from a long ailment, UNB reports.
 
Different socio-cultural and political organisations observed the day with different programmes while various televisions aired special programmes on his works and life.
 
The programmes started with Qurankhwani after Fajr prayers at Dhaka University (DU) Central Mosque by different organisations.
 
Later, teachers and students of the university, led by Vice-Chancellor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, and other political and non-political organisations placed wreaths at the grave of the national poet in the morning.
 
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir paid homage to the poet at his grave.
 
Besides, special prayers were offered at the poet's grave located on the DU campus while a discussion was held there. The DU VC presided over the event while Chairman of Bangla Department Prof Dr Bismadeb Chowdhury conducted the programme.
 
Bangla Academy organised a solo lecture session followed by a cultural show at poet Shamsur Rahman auditorium in the afternoon.
 
Nazrul Academy arranged a three-day programme featuring discussion, musical event, campaigning for Nazrul's works to the mass people and prayer programme which began on August 25.
 
Nazrul's powerful poems had inspired the people to fight against all kinds of odds and injustice and repression during the colonial rule while his songs and poems were also a great source of inspiration for the freedom fighters during the country's Liberation War in 1971.
 
Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on May 24 in 1899 at Churulia village in Asansol subdivision of Burdwan district of West Bengal, India.