Today is the 162nd anniversary of the birth of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

On the occasion of the anniversary, cultural affairs ministry will organise the central programme at Patisar in Naogaon today.

Liberation war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque will be the chief guest at the programme  while Rabindra University, Bangladesh vice-chancellor professor Shah Azam will attend it as special guest.

Liberation War Museum trustee board member Mofidul Hoque will deliver commemorative speech at the programme.

State minister for cultural affairs KM Khalid will preside over the inaugural ceremony and cultural affairs secretary Khalil Ahmed will deliver the welcome speech.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday paid rich tributes to Biswakabi Rabindranath Tagore in separate messages on the eve of the 162nd birth anniversary of the great poet.

Besides, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, Chhayanaut, Narayanganj Sangskritik Jote and others will organise elaborate programmes marking the day.

District administration, Kushtia will organise a three-day programme at Rabindra Kuthibari in Kushtia’s  Shilaidaha and a four-day Rabindra Fair near Kuthibari field.

Lawmaker Mahbubul Alam Hanif for Kushtia 3 will be present as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony, while Islamic University Bangla department professor Sarwar Murshed will deliver commemorative speech on Rabindranath.

Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will air special programmes marking the day.

Rabindranath was born on the 25th of the Bengali month of Baishakh in 1268 (May 7, 1861) in Jorasanko Mansion in Kolkata to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.

His literary works including novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas and essays always provided insights into social reality and sought to add value to individual life.

Gitanjali (song offerings), Gora (fair-faced) and Ghare-Baire (the home and the world) are among his best-known works

His verse, short stories and essays had a universal appeal as their lyricism and naturalism revealed a contemplative mind.

Rabindranath became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in literature for his profoundly sensitive verses in Gitanjali.

Rabindranath’s compositions, dedicated to the people of the region, were chosen by two nations as their national anthem– Bangladesh’s Amar Sonar Bangla and India’s Jana Gana Mana. The Sri Lankan national anthem was also inspired by his work.

The Nobel laureate breathed his last at his paternal residence in Kolkata on Shraban 22 of Bangla year 1348 (August 7, 1941).