Memorial meeting for Humayun Ahmed at SUST
A memorial meeting for the recently deceased celebrated writer Humayun Ahmed was held at the central auditorium of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Sylhet on August 6. Assistant Professor of the Sociology Department, Md. Faruq Uddin, conducted the function. The function was held at the initiative of SUST administration with Professor Yunus in the chair.
As chief guest, SUST Vice-Chancellor Dr. Saleh Uddin said, “Humayun Ahmed excelled in whatever he did. His passing away was grieved by the entire nation. His books and later his TV serials, plays and movies became instant hits. It is rare to find a Bangladeshi home where Ahmed’s books are not read. He solely established the publication sector as an industry in the country.”
Terming his a death “a great loss for the nation and Bangla literature”, Dr. Saleh Uddin added, “The vacuum that has been created in Bengali literature by Humayun Ahmed’s death cannot be filled. His creations reflected the Liberation War perfectly and ‘Aguner Parashmoni is a bright example. He also acquainted us with the folk songs of Hasan Raja, Shah Abdul Karim and so on through his writings.”
Recalling her father, Ahmed’s visibly emotional daughter Sheela Ahmed said, “My second term exam result in class 4 was very bad. My father got me some chocolates and wrote a letter to me in which he requested me to be more attentive in school and thereby ease the pressure on him from my mother. He also told that it is often stressful for the daughter of a writer.
“Along with other family members, we were standing next to my father’s coffin at the Shaheed Minar. We observed hundreds of thousands of people who had come to pay their last respects to him. It made me feel really proud and happy to be the daughter of such an illustrious a writer,” said Sheela.
Humayun Ahmed’s mother Ayesha Fayez who was seated among the audience was in tears as also Ahmed’s first wife Gultekin Khan; his other daughter Bipasha; his sisters Sufia, Momtaz, Rokeya, and other family members and relatives.
Invited discussant, litterateur and journalist Anisul Haque said, “In Ahmed’s writing there was a magical and forceful power; he presented the rain and moonlight in a new way before us. These elements were always in nature but we learnt to appreciate rain and moonlight with a renewed interest thanks to his remarkable depiction. He made the bland and unexciting existence of the middle and lower middle class colourful and joyful.”
Recalling her first interaction with Humayun Ahmed, the writer’s sister-in-law and Physics Department head, Dr. Yasmeen Haque, said, “I first met him in USA with my then classmate Zafar Iqbal. To me, he was like my elder brother with whom I could share anything, perhaps more easily than with my other family members.”
Recalling Humayun Ahmed’s childhood, his younger brother and eminent writer Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said, “Humayun Ahmed was born in 1948, on the same day as Prince Charles of England. The birth of the prince made it to the headlines and was discussed widely all over the world. My father said to my mother that he hoped that his son Humayun would one day be renowned as well and that hope has become a reality.”
Humayun Ahmed’s songs were rendered and excerpts from his writings were read out in the intervals. Professor Abul Hossain of Social Work Department; Supria Das; Priyanka Das; Nafiur Rahman and Mamun rendered the songs.
-With The Daily Star input
