Saturday marks the 93rd birthday anniversary of poet, writer and journalist Shamsur Rahman, widely regarded as a pivotal figure in Bengali literature from the latter part of the twentieth century. The Ekushey Padak winning litterateur was born on October 23, 1929, in old Dhaka in then British Bengal to Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury and Amena Khatun. The legendary poet’s birth anniversary is being observed through numerous events by cultural organisations. READ: Bangla Academy commemorates poet Shamsur Rahman’s 91st Birth Anniversary Marking the occasion, Bangla Academy will hold a solo lecture session on Sunday at the Academy's Poet Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room. Prominent researcher and poet Prof Khaled Hossain will present the keynote lecture at the event. Secretary of Bangla Academy AHM Lokman will deliver the welcome address, and poet Muhammad Nurul Huda, the director general of Bangla Academy, will preside over the function. Poet Shamsur's ancestral home is in Paratali village of Narsingdi district. After graduating with an honours in English literature from the University of Dhaka in 1953, he began his career as a journalist in Daily Morning News in 1956.  He joined Radio Pakistan as a programme producer the following year and worked there till 1959. After his stint in Radio Pakistan, he returned to Daily Morning News as a senior sub-editor and worked there from 1960-1964. Before the 1971 Liberation War, Shamsur joined Daily Pakistan as an Assistant Editor in 1964. The newspaper was renamed Dainik Bangla after the Independence of Bangladesh, where he worked till 1977. READ: Poet Shamsur Rahman’s 13th Death Anniversary observed From 1977-1987, Shamsur worked as the Editor of Dainik Bangla and Weekly Bichitra. Widely revered as one of the most famous Bangladeshi poets, Shamsur penned 66 poetry books in his lifetime. He started penning poems at the age of 18, and continued till his death on August 17, 2006. His famous poem, 'Asad-er Shirt' was written during the mass uprising of 1969 led by Maulana Bhasani. During the 1971 Liberation War, he wrote a number of poems, inspiring the freedom fighters which were later published in his poetry collection ‘Bondi Shibir Theke’ (From Confinement in Enemy Territory) in 1972. 'Shadhinota Tumi' (Ode to Freedom) is one of his most inspiring poems, dedicated to the 1971 Liberation War heroes. He has authored other literary creations too, including short stories and novels. For his contribution in the field of Bengali literature, Shamsur received many prestigious awards, including Bangla Academy Literary Award (1969), Ekushey Padak (1977) and Independence Day Award (1991).

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Thursday expressed deep shock at the death of veteran politician, Pabna district AL president and former land minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif, MP.   In a condolence message, the Prime Minister recalled that Shamsur Rahman Sherif, a five-time MP and freedom fighter, has served the country and the nation throughout his life as a soldier of the ideology of the greatest Bengali of all times and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.   "Since my return to home in 1981 ending six years in exile, I’ve seen Shamsur Rahman Sherif keeping the Awami League’s flag flying in the greater Pabna area. He has led from the front in all democratic movements and struggles. For this, he and his family members had to face inhuman torture and oppression. But he never deviated from the ideology of Bangabandhu and Awami League,” Sheikh Hasina recalled.   "As a grassroots leader, he has always worked for the socio-economic development of the common people of this area.  He was a leader of the people,” she said.   “The country and the nation lost a great freedom fighter and politician and the people of his area lost their beloved leader with the death of Shamsur Rahman Sherif,” said the PM.   The Prime Minister prayed for the salvation of his departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.   Shamsur Rahman Sherif, a parliamentarian from Pabna-4 constituency, passed away at a hospital in Dhaka early Thursday.