Shahidul Zahir

Bangladeshi novelist, short-story writer and thanrlator

Shahidul Zahir (Bengali: শহীদুল জহির; born as Mohammad Shaheedul Haque, 11 September 1953[1] – 23 March 2008) was a Bangladeshi novelist, short story writer and government bureaucrat.

Shahidul Zahir
BornMohammad Shaheedul Haque
(1953-09-11)11 September 1953
Dhaka, East Bengal, Dominion of Pakistan
Died23 March 2008(2008-03-23) (aged 54)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Resting placeSahid Buddhijibi Kabarasthan
Occupation
  • Novelist
  • writer
  • civil servant
LanguageBengali, English
NationalityBangladeshi
Citizenship
EducationMA in Political science
Alma mater
Literary movementMagical Realism
Notable awardsSee below

He originally joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1981 and began writing at the age of twenty-one. His first published in 1985 was a short story collection.

He was best known for his novels Jibon O Rajnaitik Bastobota (1988) and Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu (2009). His books were mainly about human love, solitude, magic realism, realism, and politics.

Zahir received the Alaol Literary Award and the Kagoz Literary Award in 2004 for his contribution to literature during his lifetime.

His last novella was published posthumously in 2009. He retired in March 2008 because of acute myocardial infarction.[2] He was a confirmed bachelor and was often questioned on this.[3]

Literary Work

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Novels

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  • Jibon O Rajnaitik Bastobota (1988)
  • Se Ratey Purnima Chilo (1995)
  • Mukher Dike Dekhi (2006)
  • Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu (2009)

Short Story Collections

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  • Parapar (1985)
  • Dumur-kheko Manush O Annanya Galpo (1999)
  • Dolu Nadir Hawa O Annanya Galpo (2004)

Awards

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list of awards
Organizer Year Category Work Ref.
Alaol Literary Puroshkar 2004 Novel [4]
Kagoz Literary Award 2004 Fiction Dolu Nadir Hawa O Annanya Galpo (2004) [5][6]
Prothom Alo Book of the Year 2009 Book of the Year Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu (2009) Posthumous[7]

References

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  1. Cultural Correspondent (11 September 2021). "Shahidul Zahir's birth anniversary today". Dhaka: New Age (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022. {{cite news}}: |author1= has generic name (help)
  2. Khan, Golam Faruque (15 April 2018). "Remembering Shahidul Zahir". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  3. Amin, Sanam (28 March 2008). "Uniquely surreal". New Age (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 4 April 2008.
  4. Mizan, Meem (19 October 2018). শহীদুল জহির : বাংলা গদ্য সাহিত্যে নব্য ধারার প্রবর্তক (in Bengali). dailysonardesh. Retrieved January 11, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  5. জেমকন সাহিত্য পুরস্কার ২০১৫ (in Bengali). Jugantor. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  6. জেমকন সাহিত্য পুরস্কার ২০২০ ঘোষণা (in Bengali). Banglanews24.com. 26 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-01-07. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  7. আজ প্রথম আলো বর্ষসেরা বইয়ের পুরস্কার বিতরণ. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.