Today is the 87th birthday of Syed Shamsul Haque, a prolific
writer. He was born on this day in 1935 (December 27) in Kurigram. His father
Syed Siddique Hussain was a homeopathic doctor. Mother Halima Khatun was a
housewife.
Syed Shamsul Haque is one of the few who have elevated
Bengali literature to the pinnacle of nobility. He is the only one who has
found such an easy style in his own melody, tone, creation, and writing. Syed
Haque has enriched the repertoire of Bengali literature by making significant
contributions in almost all fields of literature. He dreamed of developing a
non-communal Bangladesh in the spirit of the war of liberation through his
sharp writing.
In recognition of his contribution to Bengali literature, he
has received various awards including Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award,
Adamji Sahitya Award. Especially the emotions, feelings and disorders of the
Bengali middle-class society have come up in his writing in very simple
language.
In his novels like 'Nishiddho Loban', 'Nil Dongshon',
'Brishti o Bidrohigon', etc., Bengali-speaking readers found the path of
self-discovery. He raised the issue of the demands of the liberation war in
front of the people of Bengal by writing 'Payer Awaj Paoa Jay'. Through
composing songs like 'Hai Re Manush Rangin Fanuser', he became the companion of
illiterate people. In the sixties, seventies, and eighties, Syed Shamsul Haque
wrote songs for films as well as screenplays for many films.
Syed Haque finished his school life in Kurigram. He passed
the matriculation examination in 1950. After a disagreement with his father
over admission, he moved to Mumbai in 1951 and worked for a while in a film
production company. In the same year, his first story was published in 'Agatya'
magazine. After graduating from Jagannath College, he was admitted to the
English department of Dhaka University. However, he started writing in full
force without finishing his studies.
Syed Haque, who was masterful in all fields of literature,
lived for 81 years. He left for the land of no return on September 27, 2016. At
will, he was laid to rest next to the Government College in his native
Kurigram.
On this auspicious occasion of Syed Haque's birthday, there are various arrangements in Dhaka and Kurigram following the hygiene rules. An online discussion program has been organized by Bangla Academy. State Minister for Culture KM Khalid will be the chief guest. Poet Muhammad Nurul Huda, Director General of Bangla Academy will preside over the function.
Comment
Today is the 161st birth anniversary of Biswakabi
Rabindranath Tagore. The man who reshaped Bengali literature and music as well
as arts of Indian subcontinent with contextual modernism.
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Rabindranath,
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate
messages, paying rich tributes to the great poet, reports BSS.
The government has taken up elaborate programmes to
celebrate the 161st birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore at national level
on May 8 in a befitting manner.
The programmes were finalized at a meeting of National
Committee at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on April 18 with State
Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid in the chair.
On the 25th of Baishakh in 1268 Bengali calendar,
Rabindranath, the fountainhead of Bengali wisdom, was born at Jorasanko in
Kolkata.
Nobody had influenced the minds of so many Bengali-speaking
people before or after him. His influence has been compared, by many, to
William Shakespeare in the English-speaking world.
This year, the main programme will be arranged at Shilaidaha
Rabindra Kuthibari in Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia district with the theme
'Crisis of Humanity and Rabindranath'.
Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will
address the inaugural function as the chief guest at 2.30pm while Chairman of
the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Cultural Affairs Ministry Simeen
Hussain (Rimi) will join as the special guest with State Minister for Cultural
Affairs KM Khalid in the chair.
Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry Md Abul Monsur
will deliver the welcome address while Professor Sanath Kumar Saha will join
the function as the commemorative speaker.
Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia will give vote of thanks
while Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will present a 30-minute cultural event.
Besides, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has taken a three-day
programme, including cultural functions and exhibition on artworks of Rabindranath,
while a documentary on the poet will be screened throughout the month.
Apart from Shelaidah Kuthibari and the capital Dhaka, local
administrations will arrange different programmes at Shahjadpur in Sirajganj
and Patisar in Naogaon and Dakkhindihi and Pithavog in Khulna, the places where
Rabindranath had memories, to celebrate the 161st birth anniversary of the
great poet.
Marking the day, Rabindramela, discussions and cultural
functions will also be arranged.
Cultural Affairs Ministry and Bangla Academy will publish
souvenirs and posters on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Kabiguru.
All divisions, departments and institutions under the
Cultural Affairs Ministry and Bangla Academy will arrange special discussions
and cultural functions to mark the day.
Besides, a function will be held at Rabindra Sarobar under
the supervision of Executive Director of Kabi Nazrul Institute.
All educational institutions across the country, including
the capital, will arrange cultural functions, discussions, essay writing and
poem recitation competitions to celebrate the anniversary.
Bangladesh missions abroad will also celebrate the day with
different programmes in a befitting manner.
In those districts, where the day will not be celebrated in
line with the central programmes, district administrations, local lawmakers,
public representatives and dignitaries will celebrate the birth anniversary of
Kabiguru in a befitting manner after forming committees.
The inaugural function of the national level programmes and
other events will be telecast live on Bangladesh Television and other private
television channels and radio channels. Bangladesh Betar will also broadcast
the programmes.
Security measures will be beefed up in the areas of national
level programmes and other programmes to avert any untoward incident.
Bangladesh Television and other private television channels
and Bangladesh Betar will air special programmes highlighting the life and
works of Rabindranath.
Besides, different road islands in all districts, including
those where Kabiguru had memories, across the country will be decorated with
banners, festoons and posters and digital displays will be installed at
different spots and different programmes, including exhibiting photographs and
artworks of Bishwakabi.
The youngest of 13 surviving children, Tagore, nicknamed
'Rabi', was born to a Brahma family of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi at
Jorasanko in Kolkata.
Rabindranath's novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas
and essays always speak about political and personal life of people.
Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced) and
Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works and his verse,
short stories and novels were acclaimed-or panned-for their lyricism,
colloquialism, naturalism and unnatural contemplation.
Author of Gitanjali, profoundly sensitive, fresh and
beautiful verse, Rabindranath became the first non-European to win the Nobel
Prize in Literature in 1913.
Sometimes referred to as "the Bard of Bengal",
Tagore's poetic songs were viewed as spiritual and mercurial.
His compositions were chosen by two nations as national
anthems: Bangladesh's Amar Sonar Bangla and India's Jana Gana Mana. The Sri
Lankan national anthem was inspired by his work.
The legendary poet breathed his last at his paternal
residence in Kolkata on Sraban 22 of Bangla year 1348 (August 7, 1941).
Rabindranath Tagore Birth anniversary
Comment
The deadline for Amar Ekushey Book Fair has been extended.
This book fair will continue till March 17.
State Minister for Culture KM Khalid told reporters at his
secretariat office on Sunday (February 27th).
State Minister KM Khalid said, "We were in a panic about
the book fair because of Covid, whether we will be able to start the book fair
at all." At one point it was decided that the book fair would be
postponed. Later, the Prime Minister directed to start the book fair from
February 15. After the inauguration, the Knowledge and Creative Publishers
Association, vendors and those associated with the book fair appealed to the
Prime Minister to extend the time.
"We said at the time that we would consider increasing
the book fair time if the infection continued to decrease," he said. In her
inaugural address, the Prime Minister said the fair could be extended till
March 17. But that depends on the situation. The good news today is that the
Prime Minister has given her approval in the morning and the book fair has been
extended till March 18.
Book fair Date extended KM Khalid
Comment
Hectic last-minute preparations for the traditional ‘Amar
Ekushey Book Fair 2022’ is going on in full swing on the Bangla Academy
premises here to welcome booklovers from February 15.
"With only a day in hand, people have been working all
over day and night relentlessly to complete the preparation in due time . . .
we’re hopeful about wrapping up all the major preparation to welcome booklovers
as per schedule," told Jalal Ahmed, member secretary of the book fair
management committee and director of Bangla Academy.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to open the book
fair on February 15.
A total of 800 stalls
have been allocated for 500 publishers-organisations to exhibit and sell books
in this year’s book fair, Ahmed said, adding that around 540
publishers-organisations participated in the fair last year.
This year the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, also known as a place
of reunion of the writers-readers-publishers, which usually begins on the first
day of February, will be held from February 15 to 28 due to Covid-19 situation.
However, there is possibility of extending the duration if
the Covid-19 situation improves, said Ahmed.
Some stall attendants
said, "We are making our level best efforts to complete construction of
the book stalls in due time though it is challenging to finish the work within
short-time."
The fair will be held following Covid-19 health safety
guidelines and none will be allowed inside the fairground without face mask and
sanitizing hands, Jalal Ahmed said, adding, "We are thinking to make
mandatory for everyone to show vaccine certificate before getting inside the
book fair. But decision in this regard has not yet been finalized,” he
added.
He said there will be strict security arrangements in and
around the book fair venue to avert any unpleasant incident. Every nook and
corner of the 1.5 million square feet space of the fair venue will be under
CCTV camera coverage, he added.
The fair will remain open from 2pm to 9pm from Sunday to
Thursday and from 11am to 8:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
There will be three large entry-exit gates having sanitizing
facilities as per the government’s instructions. There will be an entry-exit
gate adjacent to Ramna Engineers’ Institute and other two will be near TSC of
Dhaka University and opposite the Bangla Academy.
Meanwhile, publishers have demanded extension of duration of
the fair as they are afraid of facing losses when the month-long book fair has
reduced to 14 days.
Ahmed said a number of publication houses had to incur
losses last year due to the pandemic situation.
“The publishers will face a big loss, if the book fair ends
in 14 days as the cost will be the same like a month. We are hopeful that the
book fair authorities will consider our concerns and extend the duration up to
March 17.
Echoing the same views, publisher of Palal Publication Khan
Mahbubul Alam said some commercial issues are connected with the fair though it
is considered as a festival of Bengali booklovers.
“In fact, the book fair is definitely a festival of
awakening Bengali nation as well as a part of our culture, but it is also true
that some commercial issues are connected with this traditional fair",
said Alam, also the executive director of Academic and Creative Publishers
Association of Bangladesh.
Comment
Amar Ekushey Book Fair is a traditional book fair of
Bangladesh which usually starts on 1st February, but it was
postponed due to the increasing number of corona infection in the country. However,
the book fair is scheduled to start from February 15 on some terms and
conditions. At the same time the duration of the fair is being reduced to 14
days. Accordingly, the fair is scheduled to end on February 28.
This information has been known from the sources of Bangla
Academy and Ministry of Culture.
According to the source, it has been decided to organize
Amar Ekushey Book Fair from February 15 subject to certain conditions due to
Corona. The decision has already been announced in a letter from Bangla Academy
to the publishing houses interested in participating in the fair. The letter
also asked them to prepare accordingly.
The head of a publishing house who received the letter said
on condition of anonymity that they have been informed about the decision of
the Bangla Academy to start the book fair on February 15. We are called to
discuss this tomorrow, Tuesday (February 1).
In a letter sent to the publishers from Bangla Academy, it
has been said that all the officers and employees of the academy associated
with the book fair, including writers, publishers, vendors, stall workers are
being requested to take booster dose as per the requirement of adults including
vaccination.
The letter further said that a letter has already been sent
to the Director General of the Department of Health for setting up a vaccine
booth at the Bangla Academy premises to provide vaccines to those involved in
the fair. Therefore, instructions were given to submit the list of names of
publishers participating in the fair, all the people associated with the stall
and the latest information about their previous vaccinations to the Bangla
Academy in a short time.
In this regard, the director general of the academy, poet
Muhammad Nurul Huda, said that it has been decided to start Amar Ekushey Book
Fair from February 15. However, it has not been finalized yet. We will sit in a
meeting tomorrow. Then the decision will be made.
Comment
Qazi Anwar Hossain, creator of popular spy thriller
series Masud Rana and head of Seba Prokashony, has died.
He died this afternoon (January 19). Qazi Anwar Hossain has been in Life
Support since January 10. He died
this afternoon.
His daughter Masuma Maymur said on a Facebook post
that Qazi Anwar Hossain was diagnosed with prostate cancer on October 31 and was hospitalized five times. He
also had brain strokes and heart attacks.
Qazi Anwar Hossain was born on 19 July 1936 in Dhaka. His father was Qazi Motahar Hossain a renowned scientist,
mathematician and writer and his mother was Sajeda Khatun.
In 1963, he
started his first press business in Segunbagicha. The first book of Segunbagan
Prokashony, Kuasha-1, was
published in June 1964. Later
the name of the publication was changed to Seba Prokashony.
Seba Prokashony unveiled new horizons for paperback
book publishing in Bangladesh. This publication has handed over to the readers
the translations of all the famous novels of world literature at low cost.
In 1966, Qazi
Anwar Hossain published Masud Rana's first book 'Dhonsho Pahar' under the
pseudonym Bidyut Mitra. The book gained unimaginable popularity. After that
Masud Rana became an icon for the younger generation of readers. More than four
hundred and fifty books have been published in this series for more than half a
century.
Qazi Anwar Hossain also used to sing. He was also a
listed artist of Bangladesh Betar. He later left that job. He received the
Bacchus Award for Best Screenplay and Dialogue in 1984. He also got Cinema Magazine and Zahir Raihan Film Award.
Qazi Anwar Hussain Seba Prokashony
Comment
Hectic last-minute preparations for the traditional ‘Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2022’ is going on in full swing on the Bangla Academy premises here to welcome booklovers from February 15. "With only a day in hand, people have been working all over day and night relentlessly to complete the preparation in due time . . . we’re hopeful about wrapping up all the major preparation to welcome booklovers as per schedule," told Jalal Ahmed, member secretary of the book fair management committee and director of Bangla Academy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to open the book fair on February 15.
Amar Ekushey Book Fair is a traditional book fair of Bangladesh which usually starts on 1st February, but it was postponed due to the increasing number of corona infection in the country. However, the book fair is scheduled to start from February 15 on some terms and conditions. At the same time the duration of the fair is being reduced to 14 days. Accordingly, the fair is scheduled to end on February 28.