Legendary Bangladeshi writer and publisher Qazi Anwar Hussain, popularly known for his espionage-thriller novel series Masud Rana, passed away on Wednesday. He was 85.
The writer breathed his last at the BIRDEM General Hospital in the capital, said his daughter-in-law Masuma Maimur in her Facebook post.
"Abba (referring to Qazi Anwar Hussain) was diagnosed with prostate cancer on October 31st and was hospitalized five times after that evaluation. There was not much opportunity for treatment. He also suffered a stroke and a heart attack prior to his death, while he had been on life support since January 10," Masuma writes in her post.
According to Qazi Anwar Hussain’s sister and Chhayanaut President Sanjida Khatun, he was admitted to BIRDEM and taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) yesterday. Regarding the rituals for his burial, Sanjida Khatun said his body will be kept in the hospital for tonight while his funeral and burial will be held on Thursday morning.
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Qazi Anwar Hussain was born to the National Professor and scientist, writer and educationist Qazi Motahar Hossain and Sajeda Khatun on July 19, 1936.
He completed his matriculation from St. Gregory's School in 1952. He obtained his BA from Jagannath College (now Jagannath University) and MA in Bengali Literature from Dhaka University in 1981.
Best known for introducing the massively popular spy-thriller series ‘Masud Rana’ to Bangladeshi readers, Hussain started his first press business in Segunbagicha in 1963 as the Segunbagan Prakashani. The first publication was named the ‘Kuasha-1’ and it was published in June 1964.
After renaming the publishing house as the Sheba Prakashani, Qazi Anwar Hussain published the first edition of ‘Masud Rana’ book series titled ‘Dhwongsho Pahar’ in 1966. The books from this popular spy series have been inspired and adapted from foreign thriller and spy novel series.
Hussain was married to famous singer Farida Yasmin till her demise in 2015. Together they had three children: sons Qazi Maimur Husain and Qazi Shahnur Husain, and daughter Shahrin Sonia.
Among his siblings, Hussain’s eldest sister Zobaida Mirza has been a professor and author, other older sister Sanjida Khatun is a renowned Bangladeshi musicologist, and his two younger sisters, Fahmida Khatun and Mahmuda Khatun are also singers. Hussain himself was also an enlisted singer for East Pakistan Radio from 1958 to 1966.
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For his excellence in Bengali literature, Qazi Anwar Hussain received the Independence Day Award in 1979, Bachsas Award for Best Screenplay and Dialogue for the film ‘Masud Rana’ in 1974 and Bangla Academy Literary Award (1966), to name a few.