শুক্রবার, ২০ জুলাই, ২০১২

Humayun's remains arrive Sunday


Dhaka, July 20 The remains of writer Humayun Ahmed will arrive in Dhaka on Sunday, his family said.
The popular fiction writer's first janaza will be held at the Jamaica Muslim Centre in New York after the juma prayers on Friday.
Humayun Ahmed died at 11:30pm Thursday (Bangladesh time) at Bellevue Hospital, New York, after a nine-month battle against cancer, bringing the curtains down on an illustrious career of nearly four decades. He was 64.
Wife Meher Afroz Shaon, younger brother Mohammad Zafar Iqbal, who is also an accomplished writer in his own right, and publisher Mazharul Islam were with Humayun at the time of death.
Dr Abdul Momen, the Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, told bdnews24.com at 11:32pm: "The doctors announced him dead moments ago."
Zafar Iqbal said the family would head towards Bangladesh on Saturday and reach Dhaka on Sunday.
Youngest brother, Ahsan Habib, who runs the humour magazine 'Ummad', said that Humayun might be laid to rest at Nuhash Palli, his favourite retreat, in Gazipur.
President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia have been leading the nation in mourning the novelist, playwright and filmmaker.
Tens of thousands of tributes began to pour in on social networking websites. One Facebook posting predicted: "The tsunami of emotion will hit Bangladesh during his funeral."
Arriving in New York on Sept 14 last year for treatment, he had two major surgeries on his colon since June 12 at Bellevue. He had earlier gone through 12 chemotherapy cycles at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre.
The writer's condition was stated critical after he had undergone the second surgery on June 21, when doctors detected infection of an unknown virus in his body and were unable to treat it. When news of his critical health first came out, legions of his fans expressed concern.
Humayun was diagnosed with colon cancer during a routine check-up in Singapore last year.
On May 11, the writer had returned for a brief visit after being treated for eight straight months in New York before going for the surgeries. He had spent 20 days at Nuhash Palli, his retreat at Gazipur which the writer had said he missed the most while living abroad.
Born in Mymensingh in 1948, he studied chemistry at Dhaka University and later taught at his alma mater.
He left teaching to become a full-time writer and filmmaker.
Humayun Ahmed had a meteoric rise in Bengali literature. He penned his first novel, Nondito Noroke while still a student at the DU, gaining immediate popularity and critical acclaim. Equally successful was his second novel, Shankhanil Karagar (The Conch-blue Prison).
Humayun went on to become one of the most prolific writers in Bengali literature, with around 150 novels to his credit. He also wrote science fiction; he was a charismatic creator of such characters as Himu and Misir Ali.
His first television drama was Ei Shob Din Ratri, followed by Bohubrihi, Ayomaya, Kothao Keu Nei. The last drama had such an influence on the people that they took out protest processions after the protagonist of the drama, Baker Bhai, was wrongly convicted and executed. Public prayers and funeral rites were observed for this fictional character by his fans. Another popular television piece was Nokkhotrer Raat, exploring many facets of modern human life and its relationship.
Bohubrihi was one of the most successful productions of Bangladesh Television.
Humayun won the National Film Award in eight categories, including Best Picture and Best Director, on his debut, "Aguner Parashmoni", based on the Liberation War.
Liberation War and middle-class life crisis were the most recurrent themes he dwelt upon. The execution of his father by the Pakistani occupation forces had a great impact on his works.
Winner of Bangla Academy Award in 1981, Ekushey Padak in 1994 and three National Film Awards (Best Story in 1993, Best Film 1994 and Best Script in 1994), Humayun continued writing even when he was being treated in New York.
On Jan 13, the government gave the writer a diplomatic position – Senior Special Adviser -- at the country's Permanent Mission at the United Nations, allowing him certain privileges in the city where he was being treated and living with the family.
The writer is survived by two sons—Ninit and Nishad— with second wife Shaon, and three daughters— Nova, Shila, Bipasha — and son Nuhash with his previous wife Gultekin.
Ever since being diagnosed with cancer, the writer had announced that if he ever recovered, he would build a cancer hospital in Bangladesh.

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