The 31st edition of ‘Jatiya Kabita Utsab’ (National Poetry Festival), organised by Jatiya Kabita Parishad, will kick off today on the Central Library premises of Dhaka University (DU) at Shahbag in the capital. Poet Belal Chowdhury will inaugurate the two-day festival at 10 am, which has been set to be held with the slogan ‘Borborata Mane Na Kabita’ (Poetry does not accept the barbarism). Poets from all 64 districts will participate in the festival and recite their poems. Besides host country, poets from India, Russia, China, Sweden, Austria, Argentina, Germany and Puerto Rico will join the festival.
The event features elaborate programmes, including recitation of poems, songs on Ekushey, seminar and discussion. On the occasion of the Jatiya Kabita Utsab’, a press conference was organised at the Sagor-Runi Auditorium at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Monday. President of Jatiya Kabita Parishad Poet Mohammad Samad disclosed detailed information about the festival, while general secretary of the organisation Tarique Sujat read out a written speech at the press conference.
Convener of the festival poet-architect Rabiul Hussain read out the two-day schedule of the event at the press meet. Besides, poet and parliament member Kazi Rosy, poet Aslam Sani, poet Bulbul Mahalanabish and poet Aminur Rahman Sultan spoke on the occasion.

WHERE: Central Library premises, Dhaka University
WHEN: February 1, 2