The 89th birthday of Dhaka University professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, one of the country鈥檚 most prominent public intellectuals, was observed on Sunday.
To mark the occasion, his admirers and well-wishers began arriving at his home in the capital at 4:00pm on Sunday to greet him, said Joynal Abedin, a freedom fighter and writer as he joined the celebrations.
An event will be held at Bangladesh Shishu Academy in the capital at 4:00pm on June 29, where Serajul Islam will give a speech about his life, Joynal added.
Born on June 23, 1936, at Bikrampur, Serajul Islam Choudhury, a renowned academic, has always been vocal against injustice.
He plays a significant role in inspiring people to join the struggle for freedom of speech and against the violation of fundamental rights.
Serajul Islam Choudhury, also a prolific writer, continues to offer a sharp critique of the undemocratic social, economic and political world.
He also raised his voice against land grabbing, river pollution, felling of trees at Osmani Udyan, construction of a commercial building in the courtyard of the Lalon Shah shrine, building an airport in Arial Bil destroying agricultural land and others.
Serajul has always been vocal against imperialism.
He had schooling in Rajshahi, Kolkata and Dhaka.
He passed the Secondary School Certificate examination from Saint Gregory鈥檚 High School in 1950 and the Higher Secondary Certificate examination from Notre Dame College in 1952.
Obtaining his Master of Arts degree in English from Dhaka University, he joined the English department of the university in 1957 as a lecturer and served the department for 44 years.
He is currently a professor emeritus.
Serajul, who has written about 100 books spreading relentlessly enlightened thoughts in the society, is the editor of Natun Diganta, a periodical on literature and culture.
He edited the university journals of arts and letters in Bangla and English 鈥� Dhaka Biswavidyalay Patrika for 15 years and Dhaka University Studies for nine years.
He was also a frontline leader of the Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir, a literary and cultural organisation.
He was showered with honours, including Ekushey Padak and Bangla Academy Award.
He was nominated by the Dhaka University senate to the three-member panel for appointment of vice-chancellor of the university three times but in all the occasions, country鈥檚 president, also the chancellor of the university, appointed others as the VC.
He was also one of the drafters of the Dhaka University Order 1973.
In 1971, Serajul Islam Choudhury was one of the six teachers of the university who were warned by then Pakistani military rulers for their 鈥榓nti-state鈥� activities and was on the 鈥榳anted list鈥� of Al-Badr killers during the country鈥檚 War of Independence but somehow escaped the killing of intellectuals.
