The 76th birth anniversary of legendary writer, playwright and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed is being observed on Wednesday. Often regarded as one of the best writers in Bengali literature after Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, Humayun Ahmed is credited with revitalising Bengali literature and is best known for his iconic fictional characterisations such as ‘Himu’, ‘Misir Ali’, ‘Baker Bhai’ and others, as well as for his ‘magic-realism’ based storytelling. Making the breakthrough in the Bengali litmosphere with his debut novel Nondito Noroke (1972), Humayun wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh and are still popular among his readers. Unanimously regarded as the bestseller author at the Ekushey Book Fairs during the 1990s and 2000s, the majestic litterateur received the Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Lekhak Shibir Award, Shishu Academy Award, Michael Madhusudan Padak, Bachsas Award and more, for his outstanding contributions to the Bengali culture and entertainment sphere. As a successful content-maker in television, Ahmed debuted with his drama 'Prothom Prohor' (1983) for Bangladesh Television (BTV). His successful journey in television continued with popular drama serials 'Ei Shob Din Ratri', 'Bohubrihi', 'Ayomoy', 'Nokkhotrer Raat', 'Aaj Robibar' and most notably, 'Kothao Keu Nei' for the character of ‘Baker Bhai’ played by eminent actor Asaduzzaman Noor. Humayun Ahmed also explored success as a filmmaker in the early 1990s and made eight films in his filmmaking career, each based on his own novels. Two of his films, 'Shyamol Chhaya' (2004) and 'Ghetuputra Komola' (2012) were the official Bangladeshi submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in their respective release years. He received seven Bangladesh National Film Awards in different categories for the films Shonkhonil Karagar' (as screenwriter), 'Aguner Poroshmoni', 'Daruchini Dwip' and 'Ghetuputra Komola'. Commemorating his life and legacy, family members, different organisations, and his admirers are set to celebrate Humayun Ahmed’s birth anniversary today. Humayun Ahmed’s widow and cultural personality Meher Afroz Shaon, alongside their sons Nishad Humayun and Ninith Humayun, traditionally begin the day every year with admirers of the legendary litterateur at their house ‘Dakhin Hawa’ in the capital through a cake-cutting ceremony at 12 am. Himu Paribahan, a noted fan group of the eminent writer, has been observing his birth anniversary for many years. Today, it will be travelling to Nuhash Polli in Gazipur to commemorate the celebrated litterateurs’ birth anniversary. Meanwhile, a day-long ‘Himu Utsab’ will be organised by the youth-based organization Himu Pathak Adda in Netrakona, the author's home district. Among other events, the theatre troupe Bahubachan will stage its play ‘Ami Ebong Amra’, based on the famous book of Humayun’s ‘Misir Ali’ series, at the National Theatre Hall auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) at 7 pm. Marking the occasion of the coveted writer’s 76th birth anniversary, a special seminar will be organised today at 4 pm in the Academy's Poet Shamsur Rahman seminar room. Dr Sarker Amin, Bangla Academy Director of Culture, Newspaper and Auditorium Department will deliver the welcome speech, while fiction writer Salah Uddin Shuvro will present the keynote essay. Professor Ahmed Mawla and Professor Sumon Rahman will participate in the discussion, which will be chaired by Professor Mohammad Azam, Director General of Bangla Academy. Apart from these events, tributes will be paid by various organisations and groups at Humayun Ahmed's tomb this morning at Nuhash Polli, and prayer sessions will be organized in the afternoon.

Bangladesh Awami League (AL), the ruling political party, remembered Tajuddin Ahmad, the country’s first Prime Minister and AL’s General Secretary during the liberation war, on the latter’s 97th birthday on Saturday. AL paid respect to the late leader through a post on the party’s verified facebook page, which read, “July 23 is the birthday of Bangladesh’s first Prime Minister, a close aide of Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League during the liberation war Tajuddin Ahmad. We pay deep respect to Bangataj (Tajuddin of Bengal) on his birthday.” A video was also shared from the AL”s facebook page, which presented a short biography of Tajuddin Ahmad, including his life events and his political struggles and contributions. Sohel Taj, Tajuddin Ahmad’s son, also recalled his father through sharing a video post from his verified facebook page, which showed the latter’s activities during the liberation war in 1971. Tajuddin Ahmad was born on this day in 1925 at Dardaria village under Gazipur’s Kapasia upazila. He was the son of Moulvi Muhammad Yasin Khan and Meherunnesa Khan. Read: Tajuddin Ahmad's 95th birth anniv: LWM and Radio Shadhin to host online event Tajuddin stepped into politics in 1943 by joining the then Pakistan Muslim League (PML). He was one of the founding members of East Pakistan Chhatra League (now Bangladesh Chhatra League), which was born on January 4, 1948. Tajuddin was also a founding member of East Pakistan Jubo League (now Bangladesh Jubo League) and was a member of its executive committee from 1951 to 1953. Tajuddin joined East Pakistan Awami League (now Bangladesh Awami League) in 1953 and was elected the party’s General Secretary thrice. Tajuddin played the role of Prime Minister of the expatriate Beangladesh government during the 1971 liberation war, which made him the first Prime Minister of Bangladesh. After the liberation war, Tajuddin acted as the Finance Minister of Bangladesh till 1974. Tajuddin Ahmed was a student of Dhaka University (DU). He obtained a bachelor in Economics from the university in 1950, and passed the L.L.B exams in 1964. Tajuddin was detained with three other national leaders (AHM Qamaruzzaman, Muhammad Mansur Ali and Sayed Nazrul Islam) after the gruesome killing of Bangabandhu and his family members on August 15, 1975. Tajuddin was killed along with the other national leaders in the hands of some unruly military officers inside his prison cell on November 3, 1975.