The Writer of the Common Man

Akhteruzzaman Elias

Akhteruzzaman Elias is a renowned Bangladeshi novelist and short story writer. He wrote only a couple of novels but those masterpieces made him one of the greatest novelists of Bengali literature. His short stories are also much acclaimed in both the Bengals. Elias's plots were mainly on lives of common Bengalis during the pre-partition Pakistan and turbulent times of anti-Pakistan movement. He was also a leader of progressive writers' movement in Bangladesh. We remember this great literary personality on his 18th death anniversary.

Akhteruzzaman Elias was born on February 12, 1943 at his maternal uncle's home in Gaibandha district   
His father Badiuzzaman Muhammad Elias was a renowned Muslim League leader and a member of East Bengal Provincial Assembly (1947-1953)
Elias completed his graduation and post graduation from Bengali department of University of Dhaka in 1964
He started his career as a lecturer of Jagannath College

Elias is the first author who depicted two notable political movements of Bangladesh in his two novels of great literary value
He wrote 27/28 short stories in his life time
His short stories described the realities of liberation war and the post independence Bangladesh
Elias actively supported the liberation movement of Bangladesh and gave shelter to many freedom fighters

Besides literary creations Elias was a teacher of Bengali literature and an academician
He was a member of Mofiz Uddin Education Commission in 1988
He also served as the head of Bengali department of Dhaka College, and as the deputy director of Primary Education Board
Elias led the progressive writers' movement as the President of Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir, which was their mainstay organisation

Elias received the  Bangla  Academy award in 1983 for his immese literary contributions
He got numerous awards for his two epic novels Chilekothar Sepoy (1987) and Khoabnama (1996)
He was posthumously awarded with the Ekushey Padak in 1999
Elias breathed his last on January 4, 1997