Humayun Ahmed's 77th birthday today

The 77th birthday of Humayun Ahmed, a noted writer, dramatist, screenwriter and filmmaker, is being observed on Wednesday. Though he passed away from cancer in 2012, his work still keeps him alive in the hearts of his readers.

He was born on November 13, 1948, in Kutubpur, Kendua, in the Netrokona district. His parents were Faizur Rahman Ahmed and Ayesha Faiz. Humayun was the eldest of five siblings, with two brothers and two sisters. His brother Muhammad Zafar Iqbal is also a famous writer, and his other brother, Ahsan Habib, is a cartoonist and humor writer.

Humayun Ahmed’s family members snd followers observed the day with various programmes. On the occasion of Humayun Ahmed's birthday today, candles were lit across Nuhash Palli at 12:01am. In addition, the writer's wife Meher Afroz Shaon, sons Nishat and Ninit, along with Nuhash Palli officials and employees and Humayun fans cut a cake in the morning and visited his grave.

Over his forty-year literary career, Humayun Ahmed delighted readers with many popular novels and introduced memorable characters. He published over three hundred books. Some of his most famous novels are - Nandito Noroke, Shankhanil Karagar, Jotsna O Jononir Golpo, Matal Hawa and Badsha Namdar etc. The four popular characters in his novels are--Himu, Rupa, Misir Ali and Shuvro. Apart from that, Mirza, Mia Beta, Bodi, Baker Bhai etc. are the memorable characters he created. His notable plays are - Ei Sob Din Ratri, Ayomoy, Kothou Kew Nai, Nakshatrer Raat etc.

Notable films produced by Humayun Ahmed are Aguner Parashmani, Dui Duari, Shraban Megher Din, Shyamal Chhaya, Chandrakatha and Ghetuputra Kamala etc. He received the National Film Award for the latest film Ghetuputra Kamala.

He received numerous awards, such as the Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Humayun Qadir Memorial Award, Lekhak Shibir Award, Michael Madhusudan Dutta Award, and the National Film Award.

This great writer died while undergoing treatment in New York on July 19, 2012. He was later buried in the Lichutola, a cemetery he built with his own hands in Pirujali village of Sadar upazila in Gazipur.