A documentary chronicling the life, literary journey and social engagement of veteran writer and social worker Nahar Kamal Ahmed premiered at Bishwa Sahitya Kendra in the capital on Thursday evening.

Titled 'Discovering A Doyenne', the 1-hour-42-minute documentary was directed by Dr Mahmud Nurul Momen. A new edition of Ahmed's book Ei Prithibi was also launched and unveiled at the event.

Prominent filmmaker Mosihuddin Shaker, director of the acclaimed film Surja Dighal Bari, attended the programme as chief guest, while Kamal Quadir, CEO of bKash, and mountaineer Nishat Mazumder, the first Bangladeshi woman to summit Mount Everest, attended as special guests.

Former Bangla Academy Director Rahima Akhter Kalpana conducted the programme.

Born in 1935 in Kishoreganj, Nahar Kamal Ahmed is the daughter of the late Professor M Osman Ghani, the 11th Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, and elder sister of former education minister Dr Osman Faruk.

A writer and social worker, Ahmed began writing in her childhood, mostly for personal enjoyment. Her first book, the poetry collection Jhora Patar Gaan, was published in 1993, followed by her second book, the short-story collection Ei Prithibi, in 1998. Most of the stories in Ei Prithibi were originally published in the women's magazine Begum.

The documentary also explores Ahmed's writing on the representation of LGBTQ people in the context of the 1971 Liberation War.

Speaking at the programme, Nahar Kamal Ahmed recalled that writing had been part of her life from an early age, although she did not initially seek publication.

"Writing was a habit from my childhood. I used to write for my own pleasure, but I never thought much about publishing," she said.

The writer stated that family responsibilities after marriage, including raising her children and serving as the eldest daughter-in-law in her husband's family, meant that much of her writing remained private.

She expressed gratitude to those who attended the premiere and book launch, saying, "I am an ordinary person. It is a great fortune for me that you have taken the trouble to come here." She also sought prayers for her health.

Chief guest Mosihuddin Shaker said he had not expected to be able to attend such an event until a few days ago and expressed his happiness at being part of it.

Recalling his longstanding family connection with Ahmed, he said many significant achievements take place quietly, without the person responsible for them necessarily recognising their own importance.

"Many great things happen quietly, without the person who does them realising how significant they are. But those of us who are readers, admirers and followers have a responsibility to recognise that contribution," he said.

Shaker praised the initiative to document Ahmed's life and work, particularly the role played by her son.

"I think this initiative, and the respect shown by a person of the younger generation towards his mother, is something that should be a lesson for this generation," he said.

Director Mahmud Nurul Momen said making the documentary was challenging because Ahmed's long life encompasses several important chapters of the country's history.

"She has seen the British period, she witnessed the 1943 famine, and as a child she saw dead bodies lying on the streets," he said, referring to the extensive historical material he gathered while making the film.

Momen said he had collected interviews and footage covering several important episodes, including Ahmed's recollections of the Liberation War, the events of March 25, 1971, and the bombing of Dhaka University quarters in December that year.

However, much of the material could not be incorporated into the final film because of its runtime.

"Creativity does not work if you draw a very narrow boundary around it. My biggest problem with this documentary was that I had so much material, but I had to keep it within a limited duration," he said.

Momen added that he had also wanted to incorporate works by artist Zainul Abedin, particularly his sketches depicting the Bengal famine, but could not include everything he had gathered.

"I am not completely satisfied with the film. I had expected to give 10 percent, and I have given 10 percent," he said, inviting the audience and Shaker to assess the film for themselves.

Speaking about Ei Prithibi, Momen said he edited the new edition and added previously unpublished material, photographs and other writings by Ahmed.

Momen also said the book contains Ahmed's translation of a story by the noted English writer William Somerset Maugham, which she translated in 1957 when she was still young, while the other stories had appeared in the earlier edition.

The documentary premiere and book launch brought together figures from the literary, cultural, media and intellectual communities to honour Ahmed's longstanding contribution to Bangladeshi literature and social life.