Humayun Ahmed’s Birth Anniversary Today

Today is the 72nd anniversary of the birth of Humayun Ahmed, one of the most celebrated writers of modern Bangla literature.  

The country's cultural arena has arranged elaborate programs to mark the birth of the well-known novelist, playwright and filmmaker.

The programmes include offering ziarat at Humayun Ahmed’s graveyard, paying homage to the writer at Nuhash Palli, and holding milad and doa mahfil at Shaheed Smriti Bidyapith established by the writer.

Marking the day, different television channels of the country will also air various programmes.

Popular television Channel I will air a special programme titled ‘Humayun Mela’ at 11:05 am. The virtual mela is feature with musical programme, dance performance, recitation of poem, etc.   

The channel will also air Bangla film ‘Krishnopokkho’ at 05:00 pm. Produced by Impress Telefilm and directed by Meher Afroz Shaon, the movie stars Riaz, Mahiya Mahi and others. 

Banglavision will air a music programme titled ‘Je Thake Ankhi Pollobe’ at 09:45 pm. Meher Afroz Shaon will perform popular songs of Humayun Ahmed at the programme.

‘Botol Bhoot’, a movie, will be aired on Duronto Television at 03:00 pm today. Derived from Humayun Ahmed’s short story and directed by Meher Afroz Shaon, the movie stars Mamunur Rashid, Jhuna Chowdhury, Abul Kalam Azad, Abdullah Rana, Khalilur Rahman Kaderi, Wasek, Shahnaz Shumi, Afroza Begum, Matiur Rahman Mati, Md. Ibrahim, Prinon, Joyet, Neel, Zarif, Aninda, Nirjon, Anon, Dhurbo, Jihad, Sayeri, Joyosri and Tahjib.

Humayun Ahmed, son of Foyzur Rahman Ahmed and Ayesha Foyez, was born in Kutubpur district of Mymensingh on 13 November 1948.

Humayun Ahmed studied in Chittagong School. He passed his SSC examination at the Bogura Zilla School in 1967 and the second on the merit list of the Rajshahi Education Board. He passed HSC examination at Dhaka College in 1969.  

Then, he attended the University of Dhaka and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and later took a Master’s degree in science. After that, he worked as a lecturer at Bangladesh Agricultural University for six months and then joined Dhaka University as a teacher of Chemistry. 

His breakthrough was his debut novel titled ‘Nondito Noroke’, published in 1972. Since then, he wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books. His books were the top sellers at the Ekushey Book Fair during the 1990s and 2000s.

He won the Bangla Academy Award and the Ekushey Padak for his contribution in the field of Bengali literature. In the early 1990s, Ahmed emerged as a filmmaker as well. He also received six Bangladesh National Film Awards.

The legendary author breathed his last on July 19 in 2012 at a hospital in New York, USA.