Children’s litterateur Akhtar Hossain laid to eternal rest in Sirajganj

Colleagues, cultural activists and leaders-activists of various organisations paid their last respects to children’s litterateur and rhymester Akhtar Hossain. When his body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar on Friday morning they paid respects with flowers. Later he was buried at the family graveyard in Sirajganj.

Akhtar Hossain’s body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar around 10am. Respects were paid from the side of various organisations there. After the offering of respects the national anthem was performed. After that he was remembered through the performance of the song of Chhatra Union. Later a guard of honour was given from the side of Bangladesh Police.

After the offering of respects at the Shaheed Minar his body was taken to Sirajganj around 11:30am. Later he was buried at the family graveyard.

Respects were paid to Akhtar Hossain by various organisations including Khelaghar Narayanganj district branch, Bangladesh Chhatra Union central committee, daily Prothom Alo, Bangladesh Trade Union, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi, Central Khelaghar Asar, Bangladesh Communist Party, Satyen Sen Shilpigosthi, National Education Culture Movement, Cultural Union and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal.

Akhtar Hossain’s younger son Promit Hossain informed that the deaths of many contemporary colleagues had made him extremely grief-stricken. Despite having physical complications he did not want to go to the doctor. Later after being taken to hospital he had a brain haemorrhage. Even after keeping him on life support it was not possible to save him in the end.

Akhtar Hossain died while under treatment at Bangladesh Medical University on Thursday afternoon. His first namaz-e-janaza was held at the Railway Jame Mosque of Tejgaon after Maghrib that day. He had been suffering from heart disease and uncontrolled diabetes for a long time.

Born on November 1, 1945, Akhtar Hossain’s ancestral home is in Nurullapur village under Lalpur upazila of Natore. He wrote for children and adolescents for more than six decades. Alongside rhymes and children’s literature he also has contributions in biography, translation and editing works. The number of published books is more than a hundred.

Akhtar Hossain was active on the side of independence during the Liberation War. The song written by him ‘Swadhin Swadhin Dike Dike Jagchhe Bangalira / Aaj Rukhbe Tader Kara’ broadcast from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra is one of the memorable songs of the Liberation War period. Timir Nandi sang the song with the tune of Ajit Roy.

He also has the credit of writing the highest number of entries in the five-volume ‘Shishu-Bishwakosh’ of Bangladesh Shishu Academy. His notable books include ‘Samudra Onek Boro’, ‘Ramdhanuker Sanko’, ‘Ultopalta’, ‘Halchal’, ‘Amar Duto Dana’, ‘O Hawa O Hawa’, ‘Paji Beraler Shasti’, ‘Freedom Fighter’, ‘Karnakusum O Kalopakhar Prajapati’, ‘Khelagharer Putulgulor’ and ‘Charankabi Mukundadas’.

Akhtar Hossain received various awards and honours including the Bangla Academy Award in recognition of his contribution to literature. Among these are Agrani Bank-Shishu Academy Children’s Literature Award, Alaol Literature Award, Language Martyr Abdul Jabbar Memorial Medal, Freedom Fighter Pen Soldier Honour Memorial given by the Faculty of Business Studies of Dhaka University, Moniruddin Yusuf Literature Award, M Nurul Kader Children’s Literature Award and Bazlur Rahman Memorial Medal.

Akhtar Hossain was a founding member of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi. He was also associated with the composition and direction of various plays of the organisation in the early days. Alongside he played an active role in the cultural movement as an organiser of Khelaghar.

The popular song of Khelaghar ‘Amra To Sainik, Shantir Sainik’ is written by him. He is also the composer of the organisational song of Chhatra Union ‘Amra To Oikyer Drirobole Boliyan, Shoshaner Karagar Bhangboi’. Through long literary practice and cultural activities Akhtar Hossain had created his own distinct place in the literature of children and adolescents and the cultural movement of the country.