The love and respect shown for the late writer, language movement hero and former chief justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair this year was remarkable.
Two large portraits of the veteran marked both entrances of the book fair.
Remembering the noble man, Shamsuzzaman Khan, Director General of Bangla Academy, said: “He used to visit the fair regularly. For many years he attended a lot of discussions held at the fair. He not only fought for the language but also contributed to the progress of Bangla language and culture until his death. I miss his presence this year.”
Bangla Academy has brought out a total of six books written by the veteran author this year, including “Gongoridhdhi theke bangladesh” and “Bangladesh Shongbidhaner shobdo o khondobakko.”
“He will remain alive in the hearts of book lovers through his resourceful writings,” added the Bangla Academy director.
Graduating in history and law, Justice Habibur Rahman wrote 70 books in Bangla on law, language, literature, poetry and religion and five books in English. While walking through the fair this correspondent found a number of people buying his books.
A visitor Nurul Alam Pathan bought Habibur Rahman’s “Amra ki jabona tader kache jara bangla bhashay kotha bole?” published by University Press limited (UPL), and dedicated to Professor Abdur Razzak, a late noted scholar of the country.
Nurul Alam said: “He [Habibur Rahman] was a man with different thoughts. His writings inspire me to think about the Bangla language and its history.” UPL has published Habibur Rahman’s 5 books including “Rabindra rochonay aini vabona,” “Jothashobdo” and “On rights and remedies.”
Mohiuddin Ahmed, managing director of UPL, said: “He was the most senior author among us. I have a lot of memories with him.”
Ahmed Mahmudul Hoque, a publisher at Mawla Brothers, which published 24 of his books, told the Dhaka tribune that Habibur used to spend little time inside stalls.
A total of 77 new books were published on the tenth day of the fair yesterday, including Taslima Nasrin’s “Kothiner korikathe” which is available at the Nondita Prokash, Ahsan Habib’s “Ek dojon muchki hashir golpo” available at Kali o Kolom Prokashona, and Dr Ahmed Sharif’s “Oprokashito rajnoitik o onnanno rochona: rajnoitik shongkot” available at Mohakal Prokashoni.
A total of 17 new books were unveiled at Nazrul Mancha inside the Bangla Academy premises. A discussion on Ajit Kumar Guha was held at the central stage presided over by cultural personality Kamal Lohani, and was attended by Ramendu Majumdar, president of the International Theatre Institute, and Journalist Abed Khan.