With the theme "Kabita Utshab Muktir Utshab", Jatiya Kabita Parishad (National Poetry Council) is celebrating its silver jubilee (1987-2011) this year. A three-day programme, starting from yesterday, is on at Central Library premises of Dhaka University. The organisers placed wreaths at the graves of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin and Patua Kamrul Hasan and at the altar of Central Shaheed Minar on the occasion.

Eminent Poet Asad Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech while poet-litterateur Syed Shamsul Haque and president of the council Habibullah Siraji hoisted the national and the organisation's flag respectively.

A number of artistes from various troupes rendered the national anthem. A rendition of "Amar Bhai-er Rakt-e Rangano" followed. This year's festival theme song, "Kabita Utshab Muktir Utshab, Shringkhol Bondhon Bhangar Utshab" was rendered next. Convener of the festival, poet Muhammad Samad, has written the song while Gano Sangeet artiste Fakir Alamgir has composed and directed the music.

Noted poet Rabindra Gope delivered the commemorative speech on the occasion. He deeply mourned the death of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Language Movement martyrs, martyred freedom fighters, cultural personality Kalim Sharafi, litterateur Abdul Mannan Syed and other national and international personalities.

Mentioning Patua Kamrul Hasan's famous cartoon "Desh Aaj Bishwa Behayar Khapporey", renowned poet Belal Chowdhury delivered the declaration for the year. Festival inaugurator Syed Shamsul Haque; convener Muhammad Samad; joint convener Amirul Islam; general secretary and president of the council Aslam Sunny and Habibullah Siraji also spoke on the occasion.

Indian poets such as Sunil Gangopadhyay;

Samorendra Sengupta; Arabinda Guho; Amrito Maiti; Shyamol Kanti Das; Bithi Chattopadhyay;

Chaitali Chattopadhyay; Tanushree Bhattacharya; Anil Sarkar; Chandrakanto Murasingh; Sukumar Bagchi; Kinfam Singh Nongkinori and Tulasi Deuasa from Nepal were present at the inaugural session.

Eminent artist Samarjit Roy Chowdhury developed this year's festival logo. A number of photographs featuring last 25 years' festival were exhibited at the ceremony.

Presided over by eminent poets and personalities, four phases of recitation programmes were held at yesterday's second session (3-9pm).

Presided over by poet Asad Chowdhury, writer-publisher and one of the trusties of Liberation War Museum Mafidul Haque will present an essay, titled" Muktijuddher Kabita: Kabitar Muktijudhdo" today at a seminar. Sunil Gangopadhyay, Abul Momen and others will discuss on the topic.

Another seminar, titled "Bangla Kabitar Aantarjatikata" by Professor Bishwajit Ghosh, will follow. Pabitra Sarkar, Arabinda Guho and others will discuss on the subject.

Poetry recitation on other languages, three phases of recitation programmes, giving away of prizes and formation of new committee for next two years and Kabitar Gaan (songs based on poems) will also mark today's second session (3-

Presided over by litterateur Zillur Rahman Siddiqui and National Professor Kabir Chowdhury, two seminars titled "Rabindranath-er Kabita" and "Rabindranath-er Utshab Bhabna" will be presented at tomorrow's morning session by poet Mahadev Saha and Professor Anisuzzaman respectively. Tagore exponents will discuss on the topics.

Highlights of tomorrow's evening session (4-8:30pm) are poems dedicated to others, recitation, music, Nrityalekhya (by Nataraj), adaptations of songs and poems into dances (by Nritym) and a dance-drama by Dhrupad Kalakendra.

Agrani, Sonali, Janata and Rupali Bank Limited have sponsored the festival.