Poet Amit Chowdhury was paid final tributes at Cox’s Bazar Shaheed Minar on Monday, as leaders of literary and cultural organisations gathered to honour his life and contribution to literature.
The tribute programme was organised by the Cox’s Bazar District Council of Satyen Sen Shilpigosthi. Leaders of various literary and cultural organisations placed floral wreaths at the poet’s coffin and spoke about his work and contribution.
Engineer Badiul Alam, poet Asif Noor, poet Manik Bairagi and journalist Zahed Sarwar Sohel spoke at the programme, recalling Chowdhury’s contribution to literature and cultural activities in Cox’s Bazar.
Representatives of Udichi, Khelaghar Asar, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Jubo Union, Kobikul and various other social and cultural organisations also paid their respects.
Amit Chowdhury was born in Cox’s Bazar town on April 14, 1952. His real name was Satindranath De. Although friends knew him as ‘Santosh’, the literary community widely knew him as Amit Chowdhury.
His father, Ramesh Chandra De, originally came from Sitakunda and moved to Cox’s Bazar in early 1943.
Chowdhury completed his master’s degree in Bengali language and literature from Chittagong University before joining the teaching profession. He taught at Chittagong Urea Fertiliser School and College.
He was enrolled at Chittagong Education College during the Liberation War. After Pakistani forces occupied Cox’s Bazar, he took refuge with his family in Arakan, Myanmar. After independence, he returned home and continued his studies alongside literary activities.
He edited the literary publication ‘Baijayanti’ in 1973 and has edited the literary magazine ‘Mulyayan’ since 1976.
His literary contributions included poetry, rhyme, lyrics and essays. His published books include Chokhe Rekhechi Tomar Chokhe, Shipra Jamunar Dhara, Jui Noy Prithwi, Raja Aschhe Raja Kar, Ghatak Kasai Mahimake Ferot Chai, Maran Bangladesh-tay and Dhonabaj Dhonakaraj.
For his contribution to literature, Chowdhury received several honours, including the Kobita Bangla award, the Second Daryanagar International Poetry Festival Award, the Shruti Abritti Parishad Literary Honour and the Samudra Book Fair Literary Honour organised by Estishan, a prominent bookshop in Cox’s Bazar.
His last rites were held at Cox’s Bazar Central Mahashmashan.
By Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
