Children’s writer Akhtar Hossain passes away

Renowned rhymester and children’s writer Akhtar Hossain, a recipient of the Bangla Academy Award, died at Bangladesh Medical University in Dhaka on Thursday (September 24). He was 80.

He died around 12:30pm while undergoing treatment, said Mahmud Selim, president of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi.

Hossain’s body will be kept at the Central Shaheed Minar from 10am to 11am on Friday for people to pay their respects. It will then be taken to Nurullapur village in Lalpur, Natore, his birthplace, where he will be buried.

Born on November 1, 1945, Hossain began his career in journalism before establishing himself as a writer and editor. He produced around 80 books of rhymes, stories, short stories and plays, while editing 30 to 40 books.

His work for children and young readers earned him a lasting place in Bangladesh’s literary scene. Among his notable edited works were collections on Bangabandhu, the Liberation War, anti-communal literature, patriotic songs and children’s poetry, as well as selected works by O. Henry, Guy de Maupassant, Maxim Gorky and Mark Twain.

He also wrote biographies of Language Movement martyr Abdul Jabbar and young martyrs Matiur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, among others, and contributed extensively to the five-volume Shishu-Bishwakosh published by Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

Hossain also contributed to the cultural movement during the 1971 Liberation War. His song “Swadhin Swadhin Dike Aj Jagchhe Bangalira, Ar Rukhbe Tader Kara” was broadcast by Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and became widely popular.

For his contributions to literature and culture, Hossain received the Bangla Academy Award, Alaol Literary Award, Bangladesh Shishu Academy Award and several other literary and cultural honours.