Dhaka: The 192^nd birth anniversary of poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta will be observed at Jessore’s Sagardari where the poet was born January 25, 1824.

A weeklong festival titled ‘Madhu Mela, 2016’ will begin at Sagardari on Friday marking the day. The festival features discussions, exhibition and cultural programmes.

PM’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman will inaugurate the festival as the chief gust while state minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadiq will attend as a special guest.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on Thursday marking the poet’s birth anniversary.

Michael Madhusudan Dutta Dutt is widely considered as one of the greatest poets in Bengali literature and the father of the Bengali sonnet. He pioneered what came to be called amitrakshar chhanda (blank verse).

He is the writer of famous epic- Meghnadbadh (1861).He is also the writer of a number of plays, volumes on poetry and other literary works. His literary works include Sharmishtha (1859), Buro Shaleker Ghare Roan (1860), Padmabati (1860), Tilattama Shambhab (1860), Krishnakumari (1861), Nil Darpan (1861), Mayakanan (1874), The Captive Lady (1849) and others.