The Eighth National Poetry Festival began at the TSC road crossing on the Dhaka Unlveraity campus yesterday morning

Poet Sufia Kamal Inaugu rated the two day fesUval

In her Inaugural speech. Sufia Kamal urged all to save the country from terrorism and communalism

The festival, arranged by the National Poetry Council, was also addressed by Samudra Gupta, Mazharul Islam. Fatz Ahmed, Japanese poets Tamako Kabe and Fultsy Hazumi and Indian poet Amarendo Sen Gupta Poet Syed Shameul Huq presided over the inaugural session of the festival, which began al 9 in the morning.

Sufia Kamal alleged that (he government had failed to pro tect the rights of women < htl dren and the general people

The second session of the festival began with a seminar at 1 lam.

In the third session which began at 3pm. several poets recited their poems.

More than 300 poets from the city, and different parts of the country are participating in" the festival.