BOU sees open education in Nazrul’s educational thought, holds discussion and prize-giving for Nazrul Year
Photo: Collected
Bangladesh Open University (BOU) organised a special discussion and prize-giving ceremony as part of the Nazrul Year celebrations. The event was held on Monday morning at the central conference and training centre on the university’s main campus in Gazipur.
Presided over by BOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, the event was attended by State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam as chief guest.
The state minister said the main purpose of founding the university was to create educational opportunities for people of all classes of society, beyond the rules and limitations of conventional universities. He said BOU, established in 1992 at the initiative of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, now offers more than three lakh students the opportunity to study.
The state minister also highlighted why celebrating the Nazrul Year is important to bring the life, literature and creative works of Kazi Nazrul Islam to the new generation. In his words, culture is not confined to song and music; culture is the overall expression of a nation’s thoughts, values, behaviour, heritage and outlook on life. He stressed developing culture in its own character, free from political influence. Announcing that a national culture festival will be held from December to this end, the state minister sought the cooperation of the university’s teachers and students and everyone concerned in building a healthy, humane and life-oriented culture.
Vice-Chancellor Siddiqur Rahman Khan said there is a deep similarity between Kazi Nazrul Islam’s philosophy of education and the core idea behind founding BOU. As he explained, the aim of Nazrul’s educational thinking was to ensure lifelong and universal access to education beyond the confines of traditional educational institutions. The vice-chancellor said BOU is the country’s second-largest university by number of students, and its academic programmes have also spread to seven countries abroad. He also remarked that practising and developing one’s own culture is essential to protect a nation’s existence and identity.
At the event, Nazrul researcher Md Jehad Uddin presented a paper titled ‘Kazi Nazrul Islam’s Philosophy of Education and the Original Idea of the Open University’. He is a member of the board of trustees of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Institute and a joint secretary at the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. The paper discussed Nazrul’s educational thinking, his egalitarian philosophy, his commitment to human liberation and the relevance of his philosophy in creating educational opportunities for all.
BOU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr Anisur Rahman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Md Sirajul Islam and Treasurer Professor Dr Sheikh Rafiqul Islam spoke as special guests. Organising committee convener and SSHL Dean Professor Tanvir Ahsan gave the welcome address, and the university’s acting registrar T M Ahmed Hussain gave the vote of thanks. The event was moderated by Md Saraf Uddin Khan, senior video specialist (Grade-1) of BOU’s media department. Teachers, officials and employees of the university at various levels were present.
After the discussion, competitions were held in three categories: singing, poetry recitation and acting. State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan handed over prizes to the winning students.
At a glance
According to a Ministry of Cultural Affairs notification, the government has declared the period from 25 May 2026 to 25 May 2027 as the ‘Nazrul Year’, BSS reported on 27 July.
According to a bdnews24.com report of 18 June, to spread Nazrul Year events across the country, Tk 2.5 lakh was allocated to each of the 64 districts and Tk 1.5 lakh to each of 74 remote upazilas, totalling Tk 2 crore 71 lakh.
According to an article published on bdnews24.com on 20 October 2022, Bangladesh Open University was established on 21 October that year under Act No. 38 of 1992.
Sources
Original report: Bangladesh Pratidin
Background sources: BSS, 27 July 2026; bdnews24.com, 18 June 2026; bdnews24.com, 20 October 2022
