Ranjit Kumar Biswas: A man dedicated to cultural development

Ranjit Kumar Biswas, the former senior secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, passed away in Chittagong on June 23. He was 60.

He was found dead in his room at the Chittagong Circuit House at about 5:30pm, where had gone to attend a family programme. Ranjit is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Dr. Ranjit Kumar Biswas, ndc, was a highly cultured personality. He was a fine elocutionist, an avid art connoisseur, a litterateur and a prominent sports writer.

After completing his studies from Chittagong University, he joined the Bangladesh Civil Service and served the Bangladesh government for many years before retiring as the senior secretary of Cultural Affairs Ministry.

Last year at the second Dhaka International Theatre Festival, Biswas, the erstwhile cultural affairs secretary, spoke to The Daily Star about the country's cultural scene. Despite the troubled times in the country, Biswas saw a silver lining under the cloud. As he said, “The odd time that we are passing through is transient. The optimists will tackle this situation as a challenge. It is an open field for theatre and cultural activists to prove their calibre.”

From 1977, he was a regular contributor in the fortnightly magazine Krirajagat on various issues. He wrote three books on Bangla literature and a number of essays and articles on cricket. In recognition, he received several awards such as the lifetime achievement award from the Bangladesh Sports Press Association, Palok Sahittya Puroshkar and monthly Mohammedan Sports Award.

Ranjit Biswas was an enthusiastic and encouraging person. His presence in cultural programmes and feedbacks were inspiring for organizers and organisations. He will surely be missed dearly by the cultural fraternity of the country.