People from all walks of life paid tribute to Ekushey Padak-winning fiction writer Bulbul Chowdhury at Bangla Academy on Sunday morning.
Bulbul Chowdhury died at the age of 73 in his residence on Pyaridas road in the capital on Saturday afternoon. His body was kept at Nazrul Mancha on the Bangla Academy premises at 11:00am at a public mourning programme.
Cultural affairs ministry and Bangla Academy paid their last respects to the writer. State minister for cultural affairs KM Khalid, Bangla Academy director general poet Mohammad Nurul Huda and others attended the event.
Leading literary figures of the country expressed deep shock at the death of Bulbul Chowdhury and recalled his contribution to Bangla literature.
Mohammad Nurul Huda said, ‘I met Bulbul Chowdhury when I first came to Dhaka in 1965. Back then, he used to write prose. After I came across his stories, I found him to be an amazing storyteller. He wrote stories the same way as many classic story writers of Bangla literature. He depicted Liberation War, social changes and history of the country in his works. He will live on through his stories.’
Ahmad Mostofa Kamal said, ‘The subaltern people in our society found a place in his writings as he had deep affection for them. He did not like to chant slogans, but he raised his voice of protest through his writings. He believed that everyone deserves to live a dignified life. His love, affection and respect for the people have been highlighted in the collections of short stories such as Tuka Kahini, Parmanush, Machher Raat or in the novels Aparup Beel Jhil Nadi and Maram Bakhani. He will remain alive through his creations.’
Afsana Begum said, ‘I first came into contact with Bulbul Chowdhury through his Tuka Kahini. Later, I came to know that he was writing Meghmedur Chhelebela, in which he wrote about his childhood spent in his ancestral village.’
‘As he narrated his childhood, it also became the story of the land called Bangladesh,’ she said, adding, ‘He himself once said that if he could write what he had planned, it would not only be his autobiography but also an autobiography of Bangladesh. He unearthed a lot of materials related to the social changes that had been taking place during his lifetime. I was personally awe-struck after reading his autobiographical novel Ataler Kathakata. I am deeply saddened by the death of Bulbul Chowdhury.’
Faizul Islam fondly recalled his memory with the writer.
‘In the seventies, poetry dominated all other genres. Bulbul Chowdhury and few others took a different path. They started writing prose,’ he said, adding, ‘Most of the prose-writers of the seventies failed to continue with their writing. But Bulbul Chowdhury was able to run a marathon. Secondly, Bulbul Chowdhury wanted to become a professional writer and he accomplished that objective. For this, he had to take risks and avoided leading a lavish life. Still, no one had ever observed any signs of regret in him.’
Imtiar Shamim said, ‘I first met Bulbul Chowdhury in 1992 through artist Dhrubo Esh. When we talk about him, we first mention his Tuka Kahini. But, apart from Tuka Kahini, he penned many more noteworthy stories such as Oi Taba Bhor, Belly, Lakshichhaya. Although, nature and village played a central role in his stories and novels, but the ultimate goal of his stories and novels had always been to examine the human beings he was portraying.’
Zakir Talukder said, ‘During his youth, he did not want to be a poet or a storyteller, he wanted to be a filmmaker. Bulbul Chowdhury was a man who was always there for his friends. He used to maintain a notebook to keep a record of all the events that moved him. Little did he know then that those small memories would one day help him to write stories that would be hailed as the bearers of new thoughts. After the publication of Tuka Kahini, we know that the history of Bangladeshi fiction did not remain the same.’
‘He set up his den at Banglabazar, the heart of the country’s publishing industry, adjacent to his home. After independence, he used to go to various meetings and gatherings. But he wrapped himself up in the early eighties. He successfully made us all feel like as if he was not there. But he kept on writing. I have been deeply saddened by his death,’ added Zakir Talukder.
Bulbul Chowdhury was born on August 16, 1948, at Dakshinbag in Gazipur.
For his contribution to Bangla literature, Bulbul received the Bangla Academy Literary Award, the Humayun Qadir Smriti Purashkar, the Jasimuddin Smriti Puraskar and some others.
His notable works include Tuka Kahini, Machher Raat, Aparup Bil Jhil Nodi, Tiyaser Lekhon, Jibaner Ankibnuki, Atoler Kathakatha, Prachin Gitikar Golpo, etc.
His first namaz-e-janaza was held at Shimtala Mosque on Pyaridas road in Old Dhaka and second namaz-e-janaza was held at Bangla Academy. He was buried at Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur after Zuhr prayers.