'Humayun Azad to remain alive thru' his writings'

Students of Bangla Department of Dhaka University take out a mourning procession on the campus yesterday on the occasion of the second death anniversary of Prof Humayun Azad. PHOTO: STAR

On the occasion, Dr Humayun Azad Foundation organised a discussion at the RC Mojumdar Arts Auditorium of DU.

Presided over by Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, the discussion was also addressed by Prof Anu Mohammad, Dr Jafar Iqbal, Prof MM Akash, Prof Mohammad Samad and other renowned personalities.

Speakers said Prof Azad would remain alive through his uncompromising writings, thoughts, creativity and spirit and in the minds of his students and readers.

They said the death of Prof Azad is an irreparable loss to the nation on the backdrop of prevailing unrest due to rise of Islamic militancy across the country.

DU Bangla Department, where Prof Azad has taught for a long time, took out a silent procession on the campus to mark the day with participation of teachers and students of different faculties.

They placed wreaths at the place in front of Atomic Energy Commission, where the writer was brutally attacked.

Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of the main opposition Awami League, also placed wreaths at the same place.

Villagers and Azad's fans held several programmes, including discussion and reminiscing meeting, at Rarikhal High School yesterday where he studied.

Earlier, on February 27, 2004, unknown assailants brutally stabbed Prof Azad in a bid to kill him in front of Atomic Energy Commission near Bangla Academy premises when he was returning from the Amar Ekushey Book Fair.

Later, he went to Germany on a scholarship from Germany-based international body of writers, Pen International, on August 7 in 2004 and was found dead in an apartment in Munich on August 12 in the same year.

Prof Azad was born at Rarikhal in Munshiganj on April 28 in 1947.