Dhaka: The 118th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be celebrated on Thursday.

Born on May 25, 1899 at village Churulia in Burdwan district of West Bengal in India, Nazrul through his fiery poems had inspired people to fight against injustice and repression of the colonial rule.

The government and different socio-cultural and political organisations have taken elaborate programmes to observe the day.

This year, the central programme of Nazrul's birth anniversary will be held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital at 3:30pm.

President Abdul Hamid is scheduled to attend the inaugural session as the chief guest. The inaugural ceremony will be chaired by Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor while Nazrul Institute trustee board president Professor Rafiqul Islam and poet's granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi will be present as special guests.

The theme for this year's birth anniversary celebrations of the poet has been styled as "Anti-colonialism and Anti-imperialism Soldier Nazrul".

Professor Soumitra Shekhar will deliver a memorial lecture on the theme at the inaugural session to be followed by a colourful cultural event.

The Cultural Affairs Ministry and its associate organisations will pay tributes to the poet placing wreaths at his grave beside the Central Mosque of Dhaka University.

Besides, Dhaka University will organise a daylong programme to celebrate the 118th birth anniversary of National Poet.

DU teachers, officers, employees and students will gather at 6:15 am at the foot of the Aparajeya Bangla, in front of the Arts Building while a rally, led by DU Vice-chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, will march to the poet's majar located by the university's Central Mosque at 6:30 am. The vice-chancellor will place wreaths at the grave.

Later, a commemorating meeting will be held on the premises of the grave with DU VC in the chair.

The Rabindra-Nazrul cultural festival will be organised at 7pm at the initiative of Dhaka University Club on its premises.

Nazrul Institute and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy are also scheduled to hold discussions and cultural programmes on the day.

Nazrul Institute will organise an exhibition on the day showcasing his books, memorial posters and souvenirs.

The birth anniversary of the poet will also be celebrated at Trishal in Mymensingh, Daulatpur in Comilla and Chittagong with due respect by the local administrations.

Different educational institutions across the country as well as all the Bangladeshi embassies abroad will also observe the day.

Newspapers will publish special supplements and Bangladesh television and Bangladesh Betar will broadcast various programmes on this occasion.