The 70th birthday of Humayun Ahmed, one of the most celebrated and renowned authors in Bangla literature, was celebrated yesterday at Nuhash Polli in Gazipur, and his ancestral home in Netrokona with due respect and festivities.
Humayun was born in Kutubpur village of Netrakona's Kendua upazila on November 13, 1948. On July 19, 2012, he passed away in New York, US suffering from colon cancer. He was buried in Nuhash Polli.
At Nuhash Polli, located in Pirujali area of Gazipur Sadar’s upazila, Humyun’s wife Meher Afroz Shaon and their two sons Nishad and Ninit, along with fans and well-wishers, celebrated his birthday by lighting up 2,500 candles at 12:01am. They also cut a cake later in the morning.
Shaon and her sons later paid respect to the late author by placing flowers on his grave. Relatives and fans also prayed at his grave, seeking the Almighty’s blessings for his soul.
Speaking to reporters later in the day, Shaon mentioned the dilapidated condition of the road leading to Nuhash Polli from Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
She emphasized that it was important to repair the road as Humayun Ahmed’s fans were having trouble travelling to Nuhash Polli.
She further said: “We have recently learned that some of the Forest Department’s land is inside the Nuhash Polli premises. We did not hear any such thing when Humayun was alive. It was probably a mistake in the documents when he bought the land.”
In Netrokona, Humayun’s fans as well as students and teachers of Shaheed Smriti Bidyapith – a school established by the writer in the district’s Kutubpur area in memory of his father Fayzur Rahman Ahmed – arrangements to celebrate his birthday through various programs.
Humayun’s uncle Altafur Rahman cut a birthday cake in his memory at Shaheed Smriti Bidyapith around 11am, celebrating the author’s birthday with hundreds of students in the school.
A brief discussion was held at the school, presided by Headmaster Asaduzzaman, followed by a doa mahfil.
Members of Himu Pathak Adda, who are fans of Humayun Ahmed’s famous character Himu, brought out a colourful procession around 11:30am, inaugurated by freedom fighter Professor Jatin Sarker, noted novelist and recipient of Swadhinata Padak.
Additional Superintendent of police (ASP) Fakhruzzaman Jewel, Mahila Parishad Secretary Taheja Begum, Netrakona Press Club’s Shyamlendu Pal, and Himu Pathak Adda founder journalist Alpana Begum took part in the celebrations, among others.
Another milad mahfil was organized at the author's maternal grandparents’ house in the district's Mohanganj upazila.
