Satkhira Pourasava chairman Sheikh Ashraful Haque, also a poet, inaugurated the festival by placing a wreath at the grave of Shaheed Abdur Razzak, a martyr in the War of Liberation and hoisting the National Flag.

Later on a seminar on 'Shantir Shangrame Kabita' (Poetry for the struggle for peace) was held at the same venue with Satkhira Kabita Parishad convenor Gazi Shajahan Siraj in the chair.

Poet Shuva Ahmed presented the keynote paper. Sajjad Kadir, Professor Kazi Waliullah, Gazi Azizur Rahman, principal Ashek E Elahi, Saleha Akhtar, Masuda Mobarak, Manmoy Manir, Tripti Mohon Mallik, Suhrid Sarkar, Aminur Rashid, Mostafizur Rahman Ujjal, Sukumar Das Bachchu and Sayem Ferdous Mitul took part in the discussion on the key note paper.

They said, poetry can resist terrorism and corruption and can also ensure good governance.

"Poetry inspired people to take part in the struggle for Independence that was ignited by the Language Martyrs in 1952. Poetry awakens the conscience of man and raises a voice against all kinds of injustice," they said.

Later the discussants presented the Kabita Parishad Award for 2007 to Sajjad Kadir and Shaheda Khanam for their contribution to poetry. The chief guest handed the crests and cheques as awards. Over 100 poets participated in the occasion.