Dhaka International Poets Summit under spotlight

---

The Daily Star

01 Feb 2019

Dhaka International Poets Summit 2019 began on Wednesday morning with the participating poets paying tribute to our martyrs at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar, Dhaka. Noted Bangladeshi poet Aminur Rahman, also the president of Kathak Bangladesh, led the participating foreign poets to the National Martyrs' Memorial on the day.

Later, the poets visited Jahangirnagar University to observe migratory birds, and interact with the students and teachers of the university's Department of English. Professor Ahmed Reza of the department welcomed them.

The summit's formal opening took place in the evening with poems and paintings in an exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). Widely acclaimed Bangladeshi painter Maksudul Ahsan's paintings are now on display at the gallery. It also showcases  poems of 7 foreign and 8 Bangladeshi poets. The exhibition will continue till February 7.

CEO and Managing Director of IFIC Bank, M Shah Alam Sarwar graced the occasion as the chief guest. Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir, Chairman, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, presided over the function. Participating poets,  along with renowned artistes and eminent literary and cultural personalities attended the programme.

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud attended the summit as the chief guest at the National Art Gallery auditorium of BSA. Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan, former DG of Bangla Academy, presided over the programme. Kathak, a poetry initiative of Bangladesh, in association with Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, Bangla Academy, Gallery Chitrak and Bandhan Art & Culture Society organised the summit. This is the sixth annual Dhaka International Poets Summit that Kathak Bangladesh has organised. 

Kathak Bangladesh honoured seven foreign poets  Ali Al-Shalah (Iraq), Annabel Villar (Uruguay), Claire Booker (UK), Julio Pavanetti (Uruguay), Kama Sywor Kamanda (Congo), Malim Ghozali Pk (Malaysia) and Tianxin Cai (China), with the Kathak Literary Award 2019. Apart from poetry recitations by the fifteen participating renowned Bangladeshi and overseas poets, the summit also featured the launch of four poetry books and instrumental music performance.

The summit concludes tomorrow at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro through a daylong poetry session. Bangladeshi poet Sakib Lohani will also have a launching ceremony for his book, Potroput, published by Anyadhara, on the day.