Bangladeshi and German poets come together for evening of peace and empathy
Poets and cultural figures from Bangladesh and Germany came together at a poetry evening yesterday, using poetry to promote peace, empathy and cultural exchange.
Titled “Peace and Empathy: German-Bengali Poetic Harmony,” the programme was held at the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh auditorium in Dhanmondi.
Goethe-Institut Bangladesh and Atopor Shabdayan jointly organised the event in collaboration with international poetry platform Lyrikline.
“In the present global context, poetry can play an important role in promoting empathy and peace,” said Frank Werner, director of Goethe-Institut Bangladesh. He said such initiatives could help strengthen cultural ties and foster international friendship.
Bangladeshi poets Golam Kibria Pinu, Jharna Rahman and Shahed Kayes, along with actor and recitation artiste Aupee Karim, performed poetry readings at the event.
German poets Tim Holland, Anja Kampmann and Ozan Zakariya Keskinkılıç joined virtually from Germany for poetry readings and discussions.
Professor Abdus Selim, an academic and theatre personality, spoke about the cultural dialogue between German and Bangla poetry, exploring their philosophies, practices and mutual influences.
The poetry readings were accompanied by live music performed by poet and musician Shibu Kumer Shill, Sutradhar Arjun, Md Rajib and Md Ashikul Islam.
Jubair Shawan, chief visionary officer of Atopor Shabdayan, said poetry could offer refuge in a troubled world while giving voice to resistance against exploitation and aspirations for a more compassionate society. “Such initiatives may also contribute to greater global harmony,” he said.
An open discussion and poetry-reading session followed the main programme. According to the organisers, the initiative sought to strengthen cultural ties between Bangladesh and Germany while promoting peace and empathy across linguistic and geographical boundaries.
Among those present were Faruk Mahmud, Nishat Jahan Rana, Tushar Prasun, Robu Seth, Theotonious Gomes, Nahid Kaiser, Suman Patwary and Golam Muktadir.
Shadab Hashmi and Marzia Shawon moderated the programme.
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