The 88th anniversary of the birth of poet Al Mahmud was observed on Thursday.
Poet Abid Azam, Al Mahmud Foundation general secretary, told 抖阴精品 that family members, admirers and well-wishers of Al Mahmud paid tribute to him placing floral wreaths on his grave at Morail in Brahmanbaria.
Marking the day, literary organisations 鈥楰aler Kalas Lekhak Samprity鈥� and 鈥楯alchhabi鈥� jointly organised a programme at the Bishwasahitya Kendra in the capital.
The programme featured discussion on the poet, recitation of poems songs and songs.
Presided over by Professor Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq, poets and writers, among others, Nasir Ahmed, Aslam Sunny, Rezauddin Stalin, Maruf Raihan, Fazlul Haque Tuhin and Mohammad Azam spoke on Al Mahmud at the programme, which was anchored by Abid Azam.
Born at Morail in Brahmanbaria on July 11, 1936, Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud, widely known as Al Mahmud, started writing poems from a very early age.
He came to Dhaka in 1954 and subsequently began working as a journalist with the 鈥楧ainik Millat鈥� and the weekly magazine 鈥楰afela鈥�.
His poems were published in several literary magazines, including the Buddhadeva Bose-edited 鈥楰abita鈥�, which earned him recognition in the literary circles in Dhaka and Kolkata in the late 鈥�50s.
The first collection of poems of the poet 鈥楲ok Lokantar鈥� was published in 1963.
The poet鈥檚 collection of sonnets titled Sonali Kabin, published in 1973, is regarded to be his magnum opus. Dedicated to poet Shamsur Rahman, the title of the collection symbolically represents the poet鈥檚 bond with the land featuring patriotism, rustic life, rivers, villages, human relationship, romance, affection, love and struggles as dominant themes.
His literary works include 鈥楢rabya Rajanir Rajhans鈥櫬� 鈥楳ayabi Parda Duley Otho鈥�, 鈥楧witiya Bhangan鈥�, 鈥楴adir Bhitare Nadi鈥�, 鈥楿ralkabya鈥�, 鈥楤irampurer Jatri鈥�, 鈥楤arudgandhi Manusher Desh鈥�, 鈥楶ankaurir Rakta鈥�, 鈥楽aurabher Kachhe Parajita鈥�, 鈥楪andha Banik鈥�, 鈥楳ayurir Mukh鈥�, 鈥楰abi O Kolahal鈥�, 鈥楿pamahadesh鈥�, 鈥楰abiler Bon鈥�, 鈥楤ichurna Aynay Kabir Mukh鈥� and 鈥楾rishira鈥�.
The poet represented Bangladesh at the Third World Book Fair in 1976. He also represented Bangladesh in a literary event in Oldham City at the invitation of the British government in 1993. In 2005, he served as Bangladesh Advisor to PEN International.
His works have been translated into various languages, including English and French.
For his contribution to Bangla literature, he received several awards, including Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Joy Bangla Award, Humayun Kabir Memorial Award and Jibanananda Memorial Award.
The poet passed away on February 15, 2019.
