National Professor Anisuzzaman presided over the book launching ceremony held at the Mozaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of DU Social Sciences Building.

Former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Vice-chancellor of Rabindra University Prof Biswajit Ghosh, Prof Dr Syed Manzoorul Islam of DU English department, Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Siraji, and Onno Prokash Director and Publisher Mazharul Islam, among others, addressed the function.

Onno Prokash published the poetry book.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Ahaduzzaman, former teacher of DU Mass Communication and Journalism department, said he never had any plan to publish a poetry book. “It’s just my hobby to read poems and write, and I’ve written those only for my self-satisfaction.”

Describing the background behind publishing the book, he said he wrote poems and posted those on his Facebook wall. “After going through the poems, my students, colleagues and friends insisted that I publish a book compiling those. Then I decided to go for it,” he said.

Referring to the tragic loss of Ahaduzzaman’s wife in an accident, National Professor Anisuzzaman said it was also reflected in his book. “These poems show he’s very careful in his choice of words and shaping the poems.”

Voicing his hope that Prof Ahaduzzaman will continue his work, Anisuzzaman wanted to know why he has taken too much time in emerging as a poet.

Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam said, “I know Prof Ahaduzzaman for a long time as my university colleague. We’ve lots of memories together. I really appreciate his work and hope it’ll get an enormous response from readers.