At a memorial event marking the sixth death anniversary of poet Al Mahmud, speakers alleged that he was severely marginalized and effectively banned for 15 to 17 years during a past fascist regime. The commemoration, organized by the group Kaler Kolosh, took place on Sunday at the ‘Al Mahmud Corner’ in the Bangla Academy premises, attended by literary figures, cultural activists, and admirers. The program began with recitations from Al Mahmud’s poetry in his honor.

Speakers highlighted that Al Mahmud’s poetry inspired freedom-loving people through key moments of Bangladesh’s identity struggles, from the 1952 Language Movement to the 1971 Liberation War and the recent July uprising. They described his work as a rare blend of rebellion, love, nature, and spirituality. Kaler Kolosh editor Abid Azam said Al Mahmud belonged to the entire nation, not any political ideology, and noted that efforts are underway to reintroduce his poems into textbooks.

UN civil society representative Dr. Abul Kashem Sheikh pledged to promote Al Mahmud’s literary legacy internationally and to seek UNESCO and UN support for establishing an institute or research center in his name.