Mazharul Islam (1 July 1929 – 14 November 2003) was a

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

i poet, folklorist, and academic. He served as the

vice-chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth of Nati ...

of the

University of Rajshahi The University of Rajshahi (), also known as Rajshahi University (RU), is a public research university located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is the second oldest and third largest university in Bangladesh. The university's 59 departments are or ...

. In 1972, he was appointed as the first Director General of

Bangla Academy The Bangla Academy (, ) is the official regulatory body of the Bengali language in Bangladesh. It is an autonomous institution funded by the Government of Bangladesh that fosters the Bengali language, literature and culture, works to develop an ...

Education and career

Islam obtained his PhD in Bengali literature in 1958 and another Ph.D. in folklore studies from

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington (IU Bloomington, Indiana University, IU, IUB, or Indiana) is a public university, public research university in Bloomington, Indiana, United States. It is the flagship university, flagship campus of Indiana Univer ...

in 1963.

Personal life and legacy

Islam was married to Nurjahan Mazhar. Together they had two sons and two daughters. His four children are Merina Jahan Kabita, a member of the Bangladesh Awami League Central Committee and member of the

Jatiya Sangsad The Jatiya Sangsad (), often simply referred to as Sangsad and also known as is the unicameral Legislature, legislative body of Bangladesh. The current parliament of Bangladesh contains 350 seats, including 50 seats reserved exclusively for w ...

from 2021-2024), Choyon Islam, a prominent industrialist and former Member of Parliament (2008–2014), Dr Chanda Islam, professor of

Murray State University Murray State University (MSU) is a public university in Murray, Kentucky, in the Southern United States. In addition to the main campus in Calloway County in southwestern Kentucky, Murray State operates extended campuses offering upper-level an ...

and Shovon Islam, a prominent computer scientist and one of the leading industrialists of Bangladesh. Shovon Islam is the founder and owner of the garments conglomerate Sparrow Group. He is married to BNP leader Shama Obaid, the daughter of KM Obaidur Rahman. In 2009, "Mazharul Islam Kabita Puruskar", an annual award to inspiring poets, was introduced by Islam's family.

References

1929 births 2003 deaths 20th-century male writers 20th-century Bangladeshi poets Vice-chancellors of the University of Rajshahi Bangladeshi folklorists Academic staff of the University of Rajshahi Indiana University Bloomington alumni People from Shahzadpur Upazila Bangladeshi male poets Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League central committee members {{Bangladesh-academic-bio-stub