Humayun’s 75th birth anniversary being observed Monday

Monday marks the 75th birth anniversary of legendary writer, author, lyricist, educator, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed, often regarded as one of the best writers in Bengali literature after Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam.

The celebrated litterateur was born on November 13, 1948 at Kutubpur, Netrakona.

Credited with revitalizing Bengali literature and is best known for his iconic fictional characters such as ‘Himu’, ‘Misir Ali’, ‘Baker Bhai’ and others, as well as for his ‘magic-realism’ based storytelling, Humayun Ahmed marked his breakthrough in the Bengali canon with his debut novel Nondito Noroke (1972).

He then wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh and are still popular among his readers.

Unanimously regarded as the bestseller author at the Ekushey Book Fairs during the 1990s and 2000s, the majestic litterateur received Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Lekhak Shibir Award, Shishu Academy Award, Michael Madhusudan Padak, Bachsas Award and more, for his outstanding contributions to the Bengali culture and entertainment sphere.

As a successful content-maker in television, Ahmed debuted with his drama 'Prothom Prohor' (1983) for Bangladesh Television (BTV). His successful journey in television continued with popular drama serials 'Ei Shob Din Ratri', 'Bohubrihi', 'Ayomoy', 'Nokkhotrer Raat', 'Aaj Robibar' and most notably, 'Kothao Keu Nei' for the character of ‘Baker Bhai’ played by eminent actor Asaduzzaman Noor. ]

Humayun Ahmed also explored success as a filmmaker in the early 1990s and went on to make a total of eight films in his filmmaking career, each based on his own novels. Two of his films, 'Sjyamol Chhaya' (2004) and 'Ghetuputra Komola' (2012) were the official Bangladeshi submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in their respective releasing years.

He received seven Bangladesh National Film Awards in different categories for the films Shonkhonil Karagar' (as screenwriter), 'Aguner Poroshmoni', 'Daruchini Dwip' and 'Ghetuputra Komola'. Commemorating his life and legacy, family members and different organisations along with his admirers are observing Humayun Ahmed’s birth anniversary today.

Humayun Ahmed’s widow and cultural personality Meher Afroz Shaon, alongside their sons Nishad Humayun and Ninith Humayun, are also scheduled to take part in various activities in Nuhash Polli, Gazipur.

However, due to the countrywide blockade, a noted fan group of the eminent writer known as Himu Paribahan which has been observing his birth anniversary for many years, had to cancel its scheduled yearly journey at the writer’s grave in Nuhash Polli.

Among other events, private television station Channel I will arrange its annual 'Humayun Mela' which will be broadcast live from Channel I Chetna Chattar today at 3:05 PM.

The channel will also broadcast Humayun Ahmed's film 'Noy Number Bipod Sanket' at 5 pm and eminent director Salahuddin Lavlu's fiction drama "Ami Humayun Ahmed hotey Chai" at 9:30 pm.

EXIM Bank-Anyadin Humayun Ahmed Literary Award 2023 conferred Meanwhile, the EXIM Bank-Anyadin Humayun Ahmed Literary Award 2023 was presented on Saturday among the recipients, marking the eve of the 75th birth anniversary of Humayun Ahmed at Bangla Academy’s Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium on Saturday.

Eminent litterateur and journalist Imdadul Haq Milan received the award this year for his literary contribution to the country’s literature arena, while Mahbub Mayukh Rishad was awarded in the Young Litterateur Category which is awarded to under 40-year-old writers.

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar was present as chief guest at the ceremony, while Anyadin Editor Mazharul Islam, EXIM Bank Managing Director & CEO Mohammad Feroz Hossain, Humayun Ahmed’s brother and eminent academician-writer Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and Meher Afroz Shaon spoke at the event, presided over by the EXIM Bank-Anyadin Humayun Ahmed Literary Award jury board President and eminent academician Syed Manzoorul Islam.

Since 2015, the ceremony has been held annually on the day before Humayun Ahmed's birth anniversary, reports UNB.

However, this year the award ceremony was held two days earlier due to the ongoing political unrest, according to the organizers.