With festivity and enthusiasm, the 30th Jatiya Kabita Utshab (National Poetry Festival) has begun at Dhaka University's Central Library premises yesterday, under the theme "Kabita Moitrir, Kabita Shantir" (Poetry for friendship, poetry for peace).

The festival, set off with the rendition of the national and festival anthem, was inaugurated by eminent poet Shamsul Haq after paying tribute at the mausoleum of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and the Central Shaheed Minar.

Poet Habibullah Siraji read out the festival declaration and poet Aminur Rahman Sultan read out a condolence motion commemorating those who died in 2015 and contributed to the cultural and political arena.

" Poetry is the purest voice of humanity, it has inspired us to win over evil,' said Syed Shamsul Haque and urged poets to fight

against autocracy, militancy and fundamentalism through verses.

More than 200 poets of eight countries are participating at the festival. A poetry recitation session was held in the evening and a photo exhibition of previous festivals and the then political state was also open for spectators.

A declaration of National Poetry Award-2016 and a musical performance will be held today.

Apart from local poets including Burhanuddin Khan Jagangir, Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, Pias Mojid, Asad Chowdhury and Dilara Hafiz, poets from India, Sweden, Norway, Slovakia, Morocco, Taiwan and Nepal also participated.

With Jatiya Kabita Parishad president poet Mohammad Samad in the chair, the inauguration ceremony was also addressed, among others, by poet Rabiul Hossain, festival convener, poet Kazi Rozi, joint convener and Tarik Sujat, general secretary.