Breaking News:

DCC elections after Eid-ul-Fitr : EC ; Hartal progressing peacefully in CHT ; Indefinite transport strike continues in Khulna ; 18-party to stage demo countrywide on June 22 ; Snowden claims online Obama expanded 'abusive' security programs

Tribute to Sikander Abu Zafar

Golam Kibria Pinu :

Sikander Abu Zafar (1919-1975)  litterateur and journalist, was born at Tentulia in Satkhira (greater Khulna) on 19 March 1919 where his grandfather Syed Alam Shah Hashemi had settled after coming from Peshwar. His full name is Syed Al Hashemi Abu Zafar Muhammad Bakht Sikander.
He passed Entrance examination (1936) from the neighbouring Tala B Dey Institute and received his IA degree from Ripon College, Kolkata. He started his career in the military accounts section (1939) in Kolkata and then applied for a job in the civil supply office. He also worked with the Globe News Agency of Satyendranath Majumdar for some time while operating his own business.
He came to Dhaka from Kolkata in 1950 and worked as a journalist for the Daily Nabajug, the Ittefaq, the Sangbad and the Millat. He founded and edited (1959-1970) the monthly magazine Samakal. He also set up a printing press called Samakal Mudrayan and a publishing house named Samakal Prakashani in 1958.
Abu Zafar was one of the champions of the cultural movement that propagated Bengali nationalism in the 1960's. During the War of Liberation in 1971, he composed a number of lyrics of patriotic and revolutionary nature to encourage the people of this land. His song 'Amader sangram cholbei' (Our struggle must continue) inspired people through out the country during the Liberation War.
Although he is chiefly remembered as a poet, he was also proficient in prose. Noteworthy among his works are novels, Purobi (a certain musical note, 1941), Notun Sokal (New dawn, 1946), the short stories, Mati ar Oshru (Soil and tears, 1942), the collection of poems, Prosonno Shohor (Cheerful city, 1965), Timirantik (At the end of darkness, 1965), Boiri Bristite (In the pelting rain, 1965), Brishchik-Logno (The scorpion-time, 1971), Bangla Charo (Leave Bengal, 1971), the plays, Siraj-ud-Daula (1965) and Mohakobi Alaol (1966), and a collection of songs, Malovo Koushik (1966).
His translated works include Jadur Kolos (Magical pitcher, 1959), Saint Luier Setu (The Saint Louis bridge, 1961), Rubayyat : Omar Khayyam (Quatrains of Omar Khayyam, 1966), etc.
He was awarded the Bangla Academy Award (1966) for his plays and the Ekushey Padak (1984, posthumous). He died in Dhaka on 5 August 1975.
He lies buried at Banani graveyard.