Spread work of Abul Mansur Ahmad

Speakers at a discussion yesterday stressed the need for spreading the literary work of Abul Mansur Ahmad across the country to eliminate fundamentalism.

"Abul Mansur Ahmad wrote against the then communal forces, against whom we are fighting now," said cultural activist Golam Quddus.

His write-ups will help this generation break the walls of prejudice, he told the discussion, organised by Daily Star Books on two books, "Abul Mansur Ahmader Shreshthagolpo"and "Abul Mansur Ahmad Smarakgrantha", at Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Gallery of the National Museum.

The speakers also said Abul Mansur Ahmad was not only a famous politician or journalist but also a magician of words. He never hurt anyone personally through his writings but never spared the mistakes of the government even though he was in the administration, they added.

Columnist Syed Abul Maksud said Abul Mansur Ahmad had not only stood against fundamentalism through his writings but also was one of the pioneers of the Muslim journalists of this country. 

"He never criticised religion but attacked very sharply the people who were doing business with religion by making false interpretations," said Shakriti Noman, asking the writers of the present time to follow the way he criticised fundamentalism.       

"The aim of his writings was to refine the human mind," said Prof Bishwajit Ghose, adding that Abul Mansur Ahmad made satire writings an "art" in literature.

The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, senior journalist and eminent lyricist KG Mostafa, researcher Chengis Khan, and editors of the two books Nurul Amin and Emran Mahfuz also spoke, among others.