National professor Anisuzzaman laid to rest
National professor Anisuzzaman was laid to rest in his father’s grave at Azimpur graveyard of the capital on Friday morning.
A guard of honour, on behalf of the Dhaka district administration, was presented to the national professor by Dhanmondi revenue circle assistant commissioner (land) and executive magistrate Md Rabiul Alam.
Dhaka South City Corporation social welfare officer Shahadat Hossain, Rajarbagh Police Lines deputy inspector Abdur Rahman and zonal executive officer Babar Ali Mir were also present on the occasion.
Maulana Fariduddin Ahmed conducted the namaaz-e-janaza of professor Anisuzzaman, 83, who breathed his last at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) at 4:55pm on Thursday.
Professor Anisuzzaman was infected with the novel coronavirus. His samples were collected for the COVID-19 test after his death and the results were positive, his younger brother Akhteruzzaman told Prothom Alo.
He has been suffering from various old-age health problems recently.
Professor Anisuzzaman was shifted to the CMH from Universal Cardiac Hospital after his condition deteriorated on 10 May.
He was admitted to the Universal Cardiac Hospital in the capital city on 27 April with various health complications, his son Ananda Zaman said.
As his condition deteriorated further, he was taken to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital on 2 May, they added.
Anisuzzaman was an eminent educator, writer and professor emeritus of the Bangla language and literature department at Dhaka University.
President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Anisuzzaman.
In his condolence message, the president said professor Anisuzzaman was a shining star of Bangla literature and culture.
He played a very significant role in improving the quality of education in Bangladesh, he said, adding that his death was truly an irreparable loss to Bangladesh.
Hamid prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
In her condolence message, the prime minister recalled with profound respect the outstanding contributions of professor Anisuzzaman in the field of education and all democratic movements including the 1952 language movement, the 1969 mass upsurge and the 1971 liberation war.
She also prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Born on 18 February 1937 in Basirhat of 24-Parganas district in West Bengal of British India, Anisuzzaman participated in the Language Movement, the 1969 mass upsurge and the Liberation War.
His father was ATM Moazzem Hossain, a noted homeopath. His mother was Syeda Khatun. His grandfather Sheikh Abdur Rahim was a writer and a journalist. Anisuzzaman was the fourth among five siblings.
He left behind wife Siddika Zaman, two daughters Ruchita Zaman and Suchita Zaman and son Ananda Zaman.
Anisuzzaman studied at Park Circus High School, Kolkata and studied there up to seventh grade. After the partition of India in 1947, he studied for at Khulna Zilla School. Later, he passed the matriculation exam from Priyanath High School (currently Nawabpur Government High School), Dhaka in 1951 and secured his Higher Secondary Certificate from Jagannath College in 1953. Later he earned his Bachelor and Masters degrees in Bangla language and literature from Dhaka University in 1956 and 1957. His PhD thesis on Bangali Muslim’s mind in Bangla literature (1757-1918) is a seminal work. He also earned a post doctorate degree from Chicago University.
Anisuzzaman began his career as a teacher of Dhaka University in 1959. Later in 1969, he joined as Junior Reader at Chittagong University.
He worked as a member of the planning commission of the Bangladesh government-in-exile. After the country's independence, he became a member of the Kudrat-E-Khuda National Education Commission.
In 1985, he returned to Dhaka University and retired from there in 2003. On 19 June 2018, the government appointed him as a National Professor. He was also appointed as the president of Bangla Academy for fourth time on 28 January this year.
He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1985. In 2015, he was awarded the Swadhinata Puroshkar, the highest civilian award of Bangladesh. Earlier in 1970, he received Bangla Academy Award. The India government bestowed him with the Padmabhusan award.
The most notable of his over hundred books include Muslim Manas and Bangla Sahitya, Puraton Bangla Gadya, Atharo Shotoker Bangla Chithi, Swaruper Sandhane, Kaal Nirabadhi, Bipula Prithibi, Amar Ekattor.