Abdullah Abu Sayeed (born 25 July 1940) is a Bangladeshi educator, writer, television presenter, and activist. He is the founder and chairman of
Bishwa Sahitya Kendra, a non-profit organization that promotes the study of literature, reading habits and progressive ideas.
Early life
Sayeed was born on 25 July 1939, to a
Bengali Muslim
Bengali Muslims (; ) 'Mussalman'' also used in this work./ref> are adherents of Islam who ethnically, linguistically and genealogically identify as Bengalis. Comprising over 70% of the global Bengali population, they are the second-largest ...
family in
Park Circus,
Calcutta
Kolkata, also known as Calcutta (List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern ba ...
.
His father was Azimuddin Ahmed, a teacher of English and Bengali literature, and a playwright.
Their ancestral home was in
Kamargati,
Bagerhat District. Sayeed passed the
Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam from Radhanagar Mojumder Academy (School & College), Pabna in 1955 and the
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam from Prafulla Chandra College in Bagerhat in 1957. He later earned
BA and
MA degrees in
Bengali from the
University of Dhaka in 1960 and 1961 respectively.
While studying at
University of Dhaka, he organized, along with others, Birth Centenary of the Nobel Laureate Poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Career
Sayeed started his career as a guest teacher at Government Haraganga College, Munshiganj. Then he taught at Sylhet Women college for some time. In 1962 he joined
Rajshahi College as a full-time teacher. After 5 months he joined
Government Science College, Dhaka. He was also an acting principal for 2 years when he was only 23 years old. He also taught Bangla as a part-time lecturer at
BUET. He took voluntary retirement as a professor in April 1992.
Sayeed gave an interview for the post of assistant professor. Being impressed by Sayeed's brilliance and personality, Dhaka College's renowned principal Jalaluddin Ahmed invited Sayeed to Dhaka College.
Sayeed later became the department head of the Bengali language at
Dhaka College
Dhaka College (), informally known as DC, is a public educational institution of Bangladesh located in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. It is one of the oldest educational institutions in the subcontinent. It offers Honours degree, honours and Master's degree ...
.
He was very popular among his students. It is said that even students from other colleges came to attend his classes. He wrote a book on his teaching career named Nishfola Mather Krishok (Farmer of an infertile land). He edited the literary magazine ''Kanthashar'' (''The Voice'') in the 1960s which promoted a new trend in Bangladeshi literature.
Sayeed started participating in TV programs from 1966. At first, he was presenter of children's programs and quiz programs. In the mid-1970s, he started presenting ''Shaptabarna'' (''Seven Colors''), a TV show on
Bangladesh Television. Saptabarna was telecast once a week. It was a 90 minute long program. In the 1970s and 1980s, he also presented TV show ''Eid Anadamela''. He received the National Television Award in 1977.
In 1978, he founded the ''
Bishwa Sahitya Kendra''. He has close association with Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA) and Transparency International Bangladesh' (TIB).
Works
Sayeed has written and edited more than 50 books.
[
* Bidaye, Obonti (2005)
* Bohe Joloboti Dhara (2006)
* Bhalobashar Shampan (2007)
* Bishwo Shahitto Kendro O Ami (2007)
* Bisrosto Journal (2007)
* Amar Uposthapok Jibon (2008)
* Amar Ashabad (2009)
* Mrityumoy O Chiraharit
* Swapna-Duhswapner Galpo
* Rodanruposhi
* Juddhajatra
* Sangathan O Bangali
* Amar Ashabad
* Amar Boka Shoishob (2010)]
Awards
* Ramon Magsaysay Award (2004) in journalism, literature, and creative communication arts for "cultivating in the youth of Bangladesh a love for books and their humanizing values through exposure to the great works of Bengal and the world".
* National Television Award (1977)
* Mahbub Ullah Trust Award (1998)
* Ekushey Padak
Ekushey Padak () is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of martyrs of the Bengali language movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contributions in a number of fields, including culture, education, and e ...
(2005)
* Bangla Academy Literary Award (2011) for his essays
* Khan Muhammad Farabi Memorial Award (2012)
* Star Lifetime Award on Education (2016)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sayeed, Abdullah Abu
1939 births
Living people
Bangladeshi male writers
University of Dhaka alumni
Academic staff of Dhaka College
Ramon Magsaysay Award winners
Recipients of Bangla Academy Award
Recipients of the Ekushey Padak
People from Bagerhat District
Pabna Zilla School alumni