Celebrating 67th birth anniv of Humayun Ahmed today
DL Reporter
Today is the birthday of late prolific author, dramatist, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed (November 13, 1948 July 19, 2012). To celebrate the 67th birth anniversary of the prominent figure of Bengali literature, different cultural organisations and TV channels have chalked out various programmes those will be taking place making the entire day only for Ahmed. On the occasion of Humayun Ahmeds birthday, Channel i is organising a fair tilted AB Bank-Channel i Himu Mela today at its office premises at Tejgaon in the city. The event will feature music, recitation, dance, interview, art competition and recalling memory by the family member of Humayun Ahmed. Himu Mela has been jointly directed by Amirul Islam and Shahidul Alam Sacchu.
Channel Agami, the first childrens Online Channel in the country, has organised a three-day Humayun Ahmed Utsab for the children at the premises of the Public Library, Shahbag in the city. Beginning from yesterday, the competition includes short films, photography, and story and drawing competition on Tomar Chokhe Humayun, will continue till tomorrow.
On the other hand, a publication ceremony of Humayun Ahmed Shishu Kishor Rachanaboli-2 will be held at a nine-day solo book fair featuring the books of Humayun Ahmed that will begin today at the premises of the Central Public Library. Popular writer and Humayun Ahmeds younger brother Muhammed Zafar Iqbal will inaugurate the fair at 3:30 pm, while Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith will be present as chief guest. The inaugural ceremony of the fair will also be attended by popular writer Jyotiprakash Dutta, eminent media personality Faridur Reza Sagor and Humayun Ahmeds wife Meher Afroz Shaon as special guests.
Theatre troupe Bahubachan will stage its acclaimed-production, Devian adaptation of a novel with the same title of Humayun Ahmed, today at 6:30pm at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Segun Bagicha in the city. Directed by Arham Alo and dramatised by Iqbal Hossain, the play zooms in on an interesting theme- contradiction between the conscious and the subconscious mind of human.
Bangladesh Television (BTV) will air a commemorative programme titled Smrityr Jotsnay Humayun tonight at 9:30pm, where Meher Afroz Shaon will talk about Humayun Ahmeds life and works. Produced by BTV, singer Zinat Jahan Munni will host the programme.
Boishakhi Television will air a musical show titled Somoy Katuk Gane Gane in memory of Ahmed, where popular singers Kuddus Boyati, Alif Layla, Sur Dariya Epar Opar winer Monir will sing a number of audience-admired tracks of Humayun Ahmed.
In addition, Channel i will air Humayun Ahmeds special tele-drama at 7:30pm today and his popular film Shraban Megher Din at 1:05 pm tomorrow. The cast of the film includes popular actors Zahid Hasan, Mahfuz Ahmed, Meher Afroz Shaon, Anwara, Mukti, Golam Mostafa, Saleh Ahmed, Dr Ezaz and others.
Humayun Ahmed, born in 1948 in Mohongonj of Netrokona, his father was Faizur Rahman Ahmed, a police officer and writer, was killed by the Pakistani military during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, and his mother was Ayesha Foyez. He educated at Dhaka University. He later joined the university as a lecturer of chemistry before becoming a full-time writer.
Ahmed reached peak of his fame with the publication of his novel Nondito Noroke (In Blissful Hell) in 1972, which remains one of his most famous works, winning admiration from literary critics, including Dr. Ahmed Sarif. He wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh. His first television drama was Prothom Prohor (first moment) in 1983, directed by Nawazesh Ali Khan. His first drama serial was Ei Shob Din Ratri (Tale of our daily lives). It was followed by the comedy series Bohubrihi, the historical drama series Ayomoy, and the urban drama series Kothao Keu Nei (There is no one in anywhere). The last one featured a fictional character of an idealistic gang leader named Baker Bhai, who was wrongly convicted and executed. His first film, Aguner Poroshmoni, based on the liberation war, won the National Film Award in total eight categories, including Best Picture and Best Director. Ahmed also wrote songs for a few of his own films and plays. Some of the notables are titled as Ami Aaj Bhejabo Chokh Somudrer Joley, Chadni Poshor Ratey and Amaaar Achey Jol.
He died on July 19 in 2012 at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. Earlier, in 2011 Ahmed had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He was buried in Nuhash Polli. l
