The Eleventh North America Nazrul Conference was held on May 24-25, 2008 at the Shady Grove Campus of the University of Maryland.  This conference coincided with the 109^th birth anniversary of the legendary and rebel poet.

Mr. Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States was the Chief Guest. Mr. Ronen Sen, Indian Ambassador to the United States sent his message wishing the conference a success.  Renowned Nazrul Scholar, Dr. Kyoko Niwa, Professor of Asian University, Tokyo, Japan was the key note speaker. Dr. Niwa addressed the audience in Bangla. Ms. Niwa began her research on Nazrul after going through his poem “Rebellion” which was composed in December 1921.  

On the first day, the program started with the Bangladeshi national anthem sung by renowned singer from Maryland Mrs. Nazma Razzaque.  Virginia-based Dhroopad, Maryland-based Bangladesh Christian Association, Virginia-based Bangladesh Association of Hampton Road and Shoukhin of New Jersey staged a highly commendable cultural program.  Ms. Nahid Sultana, Ms. Zaheda Begum from Maryland, Ms. Sharmistha Banerjee from Florida participated as guest artists.  Ms. Leena Taposhi Khan from Bangladesh and Ms. Sabiha Mahboob from New Zealand sang Nazrul songs and captivated the audience with their melodious voice. Ms. Leena Taposhi Khan performed her last song on the first day ending with - Nazrul’s Bhatiali “Poddar Dheurey…...

Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed from Pennsylvania presented a video on Nazrul on the second day followed by the presentation of some Slides on Nazrul by the Host organization. The NANCC held its regular meeting on the second day which was attended by Dr. Sultan Ahmad, Chairperson (VA), Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Vice Chairperson (PA), Mr. Mahmood Billah, Vice Chairperson (TX), Mr. Wahed Hossaini, Vice Chairperson (VA), Mr. M. Musharraf Hussain, Vice Chairperson (MD), Dr. Wadud Bhuiyan, Member (NY) and Ms. Inara Islam, Member (VA).  This meeting decided that the next year’s conference will be hosted by the Bangladesh Association of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. 

Mr. Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, head of the Voice of America-Bangla program, chaired the seminar. Ms. Leena Taposhi Khan, also a Faculty Member/Deputy Director of Shanto Mariam University of Creative Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dr. Kyoko Niwa,  Professor of Asian University, Tokyo, Japan, Mr. Anis Ahmed, Voice of America broadcaster, Dr. Kabir Uddin Ahmed and Ms. Sharmin Ahmed Ripi participated in the seminar.  Mr. Chowdhury described the relationship the poet had with his deceased father, Mr. Habibullah Bahar Chowdhury, Former Education Minister in erstwhile East Pakistan. He displayed photos of the poet’s first visit to Chittagong which was sponsored by his father.  He also displayed a copy of the newspaper, Dhumketu to the audience that used to be published during pre-1947 era.

On the second day, Dhroopad staged also the same cultural program in the evening. Renowned Nazrul artists and organizations who performed were Mr. Mahmood Billah from Houston, Ms. Zaheda Begum from Maryland, Mr. Shabnam Abedi from New Jersey, Mr.  Suranjan Dutta from Virginia, Bangladesh Association of New Jersey, Mr. Sharmistha Banerjee from Florida,  Ms. Samia Mahbub Ahmed from Maryland, Ms. Samina Biswas from Virginia, and  Ms. Kaori Rahman from Maryland.   Visiting famous singers Ms. Taposhi Khan from Bangladesh, and Ms. Sabiha Mahboob from New Zealand and Mr. Shankar Chakraborty from Canada, mesmerized the audience with their songs.

For the first time in the history of NANCC, essay competition was held for school and college students to generate interest about Nazrul among our future generation and cash money and certificates were awarded to the winners and runners up.  The school students wrote an essay on Nazrul’s youth and the college students wrote on his legacy.  Saika Belal, Nadira Yasmin, and Sana Majid ranked first, second and third respectively in the college group.  In the school category, Jafrin Jamal won the first position, Sameen Belal, Anika Rahman were a tie at the second position, while Rafa Rahman, Shree Sanyal and Samanza Hussain were runners-up.   

NANC Conference Committee recognized Ms. Zaheda Begum, Mr., Suranjan Dutta, Ms. Sabiha Mahboob, Ms. Leena Taposhi Khan and Dr. Kyoko Niwa for their contribution to Nazrul’s work and each of them was handed a plaque. In addition, the Committee recognized Dr. Sultan Ahmed for his dedication and excellent service as the chairperson of the North America Nazrul Conference Committee for the last five years.

Dr. Jafrul Hasan, Ms. Tahera Kibria, Mr. Shawkat Khan Dipu and Ms. Shameem Chowdhury of Voice of America emceed the cultural program.