Today will be talking about a person, whose journey began in the mid-sixties of the last century and gained popularity in the 1980s to 1990s. Even in the 21st century, his popularity has not diminished. The person is none other than the creator of the Bangla thrill character Masud Rana. From “Rahasya Patrika” to “Kuasha” one person was involved in everything; He is Qazi Anwar Hussain. Kazi Anwar Hussain single-handedly made the mystery-thriller genre popular in our country. He also made classical foreign literature available to the readers. As the life of his legendary spy Masud Rana, Qazi Anwar’s life was also colorful. On January 19, that colorful life came to an end. Read 10 Most Useful Foreign Languages to Learn in 2022 Early life and Education of Qazi Anwar Hussain Qazi Anwar Hussain was born on 19 July 1936 in Bagmara, Rajbari District (British India). His full name is Kazi Shamsuddin Anwar Hussain. The nickname was 'Nawab'. Anwar Hussain passed matriculation from St. Gregory School in 1952 and after that, completed his IA and BA from Jagannath College. He passed MA in Bengali Literature from Dhaka University in 1961. Anwar Hussain spent his childhood in the present residential area of Dhaka Medical College and Dhaka University. After finishing his studies, he started singing regularly on the radio. His three sisters Sanjeeda Khatun, Fahmida Khatun, and Mahmuda Khatun are still deeply involved in Rabindra Sangeet. He was a music artist of Dhaka Betar from 1958 to 1966. Read Top Bookstore Cafés in Dhaka: 6 Places Bringing Back the Joy of Reading Family Life Qazi Anwar Hossian married singer Farida Yasmin in 1962. The couple has one daughter and two sons. His daughter Shahreen Sonia is a vocalist. Eldest son Kazi Shahnoor Hussain and youngest son Maymur Hussain are involved in writing and publishing services. Career While everyone was looking for a job after MA, Anwar Hossian sat idly. In fact, he did not like to work under anyone. He decided to run a tea stall. Later he opened a tea shop called 'Baishakhi' in an empty room in a corner outside the house. After a few days, his father Qazi Motahar Hossian influenced him to start writing the story as Anwar Hossian wrote two stories while he was studying in IA. His life changed with the inspiration of his father. He started a new series with two of his stories, called ‘Kuasha’. Its later history is known to almost everyone. Then the writer no longer had to stay behind, just move forward. Read Top 10 Historical Mosques in Bangladesh In May 1963, he opened a press in Shegunbagicha with ten thousand taka given by his father. He bought a treadle machine for eight thousand taka and a typewriter with the rest of the money. Segunbagan Press began its journey with two employees, which was later renamed as Seba Prakashani. Later, his publishing house played an important role in publishing paperback books in Bangladesh, translating world-renowned novels, and advancing the genre of teenage literature. Kuasha-1 was published in June 1964, marking the debut of Shegunbagan Publishing. Seba Prokashoni Segunbagan Press was later renamed Seba Prakashani. Its name was derived from the first two letters of the previous name ‘Segun’ and ‘Bagan.’ It was established in May 1963. Seba Prakashani, founded by Qazi Anwar Hussain, is now a well-known publishing house in Bangladesh. Not only the readers but Seba Prakashani has also made an outstanding contribution in making writers in Bangladesh. Read Best Online Book Selling Websites in Bangladesh in 2021 Kuasha Series Kuasha is the first series or book published by Seba Prakashani. Publication began in June 1964 and the chief author was Kazi Anwar Hussain. However, Sheikh Abdul Hakim has also written a few books. The first book published by Seba Prakashani is Kuasha-1 and the last book published in this series is Kuasha-78. A total of 78 books have been published under this series. This series is currently closed. Masud Rana Series It is a popular spy story series created by popular fiction writer Qazi Anwar Hussain. The first edition of the series was published in 1966. At present many ghostwriters are writing the Masud Rana series in the name of Kazi Anwar Hussain. From the first book named “Dhongsho Pahar '' in 1966, Seba Prakashani has published more than four hundred detective story books about Masud Rana's character. Although the first two books in the series are original, other books are inspired by the foreign books. That is why this series has so many books. The character of Masud Rana was originally created by the author as a Bengali version of the James Bond character created by Ian Fleming. But at present, the series is on its way to retaining its place in the history of Bangla books. Read Rich Dad Poor Dad– Worth Reading in Your Quarantine Tin Goyenda Series This is the most popular series published by Seba Prakashani. First published in 1985. Although it was originally published by Rakib Hasan, it has been written by Shamsuddin Nawab since 2003. This is a teenage series based on a foreign story. The first book was "Tin Goyenda.” The book was published as a teenage thriller and the series is a huge milestone in Bangla books history. Rahasya Patrika Rahasya Patrika is one of the most popular monthly magazines in Bangladesh. It was first published in 1970. After the independence of Bangladesh, this magazine started to be published regularly from 1984 under the editorship of Qazi Anwar Hussain. Controversies The Masud Rana series always had a tag 'For adults'. That must have added to the appeal of the series. So the first criticism against Qazi Anwar Hussain was that he was promoting sexual staff through Masud Rana Series. However, neither Anwar Hussain nor the readers showed any concern about it. Read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill: Worth Reading in Your Quarantine Towards the end of his life, the writer faced an unpleasant copyright case with Sheikh Abdul Hakim. On July 29, 2018, Abdul Hakim filed a complaint against Kazi Anwar Hussain, the proprietor of Seba Prakashan, claiming ownership of 260 books of the Masud Rana series and 50 books of the Kuasha series. Later the copyright office gave their decision favoring Abdul Hakim. Final Words Qazi Anwar Hussain was diagnosed with prostate cancer on October 31, 2021. Then faced a brain stroke and a heart attack. Later, he was placed on life support from January 10, 2022. He died on 19 January 2022 while on life support. Although most of his novels and stories are based on foreign stories Qazi Anwar Hussain is a legendary name in Bangla as he created a reading habit in Bangladeshi Teenagers and youths. Qazi Anwar Hussain will remain in the hearts of those who have read, enjoyed, and will read ‘Tin Goyenda’ and ‘Masud Rana.’ Read 15 to get Bangla Academy Literature award 2021

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. READ: TH Khan passes away 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. READ: Bangladesh Athletics Federation president Ali Kabir passes away 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.

The High Court on Monday rejected the writ petition of Qazi Anwar Hossain owner of Seba Prokashoni claiming the copyright of 260 books of popular thriller series ‘Masud Rana’. The court also said copyright of 50 books of ‘Kuasha’ series will remain seized. The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Md Iqbal Kabir passed the order today. Barrister ABM Hamidul Misbah presented the petitioner’s side while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan and Iftabul Kamal Ayan appeared for the Copyright office. Also read: Sheikh Abdul Hakim, 'Masud Rana' ghostwriter, passes away On July 29, 2019, author Sheikh Abdul Hakim submitted a complaint against Qazi Anwar Hossain for violating section 71 and 89 of the Copyright Act by depriving him of the author rights of those books of Masud Rana and Kuasha series. On June 14, 2020, the Copyright office passed its decision in favour of Sheikh Abdul Hakim. Jafar Raza Chowdhury, registrar of Bangladesh Copyright office said, Sheikh Abdul Hakim was given author rights only in one of the Masud Rana series and six of Kuahsa series books but he has proved his authorship for the remaining ones. “Sheikh Abdul Hakim will have to separately appeal for each book for the author right and copyright,”he said. The copyright office in its order directed the defense to stop publication and commercial use of the claimed and enlisted books until further order of court or the copyright board. Also read: HC stays copyright order on Masud Rana, Kuasha series It also directed the defense to submit the statement of account of the sold books, number of sold books and the number of editions of the books that have registered copyright to the petitioner within 30 days. Qazi Anwar Hossain later filed a writ challenging the order of the copyright office. On September 10, 2020, The High Court stayed the decision of Copyright Office Bangladesh for one month. The court asked the Cultural Affairs Secretary, Copyright Office Bangladesh, Registrar of Copyright and Copyright Board to explain why the Copyright Office’s June 14 decision should not be declared illegal. Unfortunately on August 29, this year Sheikh Abdul Hakim, ghostwriter of the popular spy thriller series 'Masud Rana', passed away at the age of 75, after losing his long battle with bronchitis.

Sheikh Abdul Hakim, ghostwriter of the popular spy thriller series 'Masud Rana', has passed away at the age of 75, after losing his long battle with bronchitis. The noted writer breathed his last at his Madartek residence in the capital at around 1pm on Saturday, according to his family sources. He suffered from chronic asthma and was hospitalized a few days ago. Read 19th Asian Art Biennale postponed again, this time till February 2022 His first Namaz-e-janaza was held at the Nandipara Mosque in Madartek after the Maghrib prayer. He was then buried at the Nandipara Graveyard, according to his daughter Apala Hakim. Sheikh Abdul Hakim was born in 1948 in Hugli, West Bengal. He moved to the then East Pakistan (Bangladesh) with his family in 1952. Read Alif Alauddin releases tribute song commemorating father Alauddin Ali on first death anniversary During the 60's, he joined the famous publishing house 'Sheba Prakashani' as a professional writer. He has also served as the Assistant Editor office  'Rahashya Patrika', a monthly magazine published from the Sheba Prakashani. Throughout his career, he has written 271 books of the massively popular 'Masud Rana' series, as its ghostwriter. He also wrote approximately 50 books of the 'Kuasha' series, another popular fiction line-up in the country. Read Grapes are Sour: Portraying the difficult experiences of women in our society Last year, he filed a lawsuit against noted writer-publisher Qazi Anwar Hussain, claiming the copyright of 260 books of the 'Masud Rana' series. Although the copyright office approved his claim, Qazi Anwar Hussain later filed another lawsuit at the High Court against the decision and the case is currently ongoing. Apart from being a ghostwriter, Sheikh Abdul Hakim has also translated popular English books into Bengali, most notably the Dan Brown series and 'The Godfather' series, written by Mario Puzo. Read 3 Inspirational books to read in quarantine