The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has instructed all secondary schools and colleges in Bangladesh to organise cultural competitions under their own arrangements to mark Nazrul Year. The directive was issued in a letter sent on Tuesday and applies to institutions offering higher secondary and equivalent, undergraduate and postgraduate education under the directorate.

The instruction cites memorandums from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs dated August 27, 2026, and the Ministry of Education. DSHE said the competitions must be arranged in accordance with guidelines set by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The government has decided to observe Nazrul Year from May 25 through May 25 of next year, and the ministry prepared the guideline for institution-based competitions nationwide.

Under the guideline, winner lists from schools and colleges in Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Chattogram, Rajshahi and Khulna city corporations must be sent to the relevant city corporation’s chief executive officer. Winner lists from institutions in Sylhet, Barishal, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Gazipur city corporations, as well as all upazilas including municipalities, must be sent to the respective upazila nirbahi officer.