On October 9, Bangal Foundation organised a commemorating meeting on the recently demised writer Syed Shamsul Haq at the Bangladesh National Museum Auditorium. The event commenced with the performance of two Tagore songs. The program was followed by a screening of a documentary on Syed Shamsul Haq titled, Jolershwarir Kathak.
Professor emeritus Anisuzzaman, Professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, actor and cultural personality Aly Zaker, writer Selina Hossain, cultural personality and one of the trustees of Liberation War Museum Mafidul Haq and the chairman of Bengal Foundation, Abul Khair, the writer's son Ditio Syed Haq, were also present at the event and reminisced the recently demised writer.
Professor emeritus Anisuzzaman said, “Syed Haq wrote about our past and present and by doing so, he has paved our way into a more enlightened and progressive future.”
Professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said, “All the talent that Syed Haq possessed could hardly be contained by one person.”
Aly Zaker said, “Syed Haq had the ability to make the most profound statements in the simplest ways. I noticed it in his plays, especially Nuruldiner Sara Jibon.”
Writer Selina Hossain said, “I was first introduced with his writing through a poem published in Ekush-er Shoroney as anonymous. Then I discovered him by reading Kobi. I think, he is one of the most powerful writers of Bangali literature.”
According to Abul Khair Litu,“I had an intimate relation with Syed Haq which lasted till his death. I request everyone to read his work so that we can develop ours.”
Born in Kurigram on December 27, 1935, Shamsul Haq rose to fame with his incredible creation of poetry, plays and short stories. Considered to be a pioneer of modern Bangla literature, Shamsul has written stirring poems such as Ekoda Ek Rajjey (1961), Boishakhey Rochito Ponktimala (1969), Birotihin Utsab (1969, Protidhwonigon (1976) and Opor Purush (1978).
He put diverse expressions of different Bangla dialects together in the context of modern expression, which took his creations to an extraordinary height.
Besides poems, he also wrote more than 50 novels including Stobdhotar Onubad (1987), Nishiddho Loban (1990), Khelaram Kheley Ja (1991) and Ayna Bibir Pala.
His plays Payer Awaj Paqa Jay and Nuruldiner Sara Jibon set a milestone for modern Bangla theatre.
He also wrote many songs, some of which gained much popularity, and translated world classics like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Tempest, Troilus and Cresida, and Ibsen’s Pyr Gynt.
Shamsul Haq won the Bangla Academy Award in 1966, Ekushey Padak in 1984 and Independence Award in 2000 for his contribution to Bangla literature.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
