Prominent writer and author of the popular spy thriller series ‘Masud Rana’, Qazi Anwar Husain died today, his sister, renowned cultural personality Sanjida Khatun, confirmed to the Daily Star.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on October 31, 2021 and has been hospitalized five times since then. He then suffered a stroke and heart attack and was put on life support on January 10, 2022 in a private hospital.
“He was on life support at BIRDEM Hospital and was transferred to intensive care yesterday. He breathed his last at 4:40 p.m. this afternoon,” she added.
Born on July 19, 1936 in Dhaka, Husain is the author of a large number of spy thrillers and adventure novels. His writing was heavily influenced by foreign mystery novels, especially the cultural phenomenon that was James Bond.
Obtaining his post-graduation in Bengali Literature and Language from the University of Dhaka, he single-handedly founded Sheba Prokashoni in 1960 and became a prominent editorial figure in Bengali literature. Although Husain has never had any professional training in music, he performs regularly on the radio and is very popular with his listeners.
The prolific writer wanted to establish his own printing press and so he borrowed 10,000 taka from his father and established the Segunbagicha Press. At that time, he had only 2 employees, but gradually his business began to flourish, and the press turned into the famous publishing house Sheba Prokashoni.
In 1964, Qazi Anwar Husain published his first book “Kuasha-1” from Segunbagicha publication. The series revolves around a scientist called “Kuasha” who works for the development of science and wants to eradicate evil from society by helping people in distress.
Sheba Prokashoni has been instrumental in publishing paperbacks in Bangladesh and translating world famous novels into Bengali for avid readers.
After renaming the publishing house to Sheba Prokashoni, Qazi Anwar Husain published the first edition of the “Masud Rana” series of books titled “Dhongsho-Pahar” in 1966.
His father, Qazi Motahar Husain, was a national scientist, writer and teacher.
Qazi Anwar Husain was married to famous singer Farida Yasmin until her death in 2015. The couple had three children: sons Qazi Maimur Husain and Qazi Shahnur Husain, and daughter Shahrin Sonia.
For his excellence in Bengali literature, Qazi Anwar Husain received the Independence Day Award in 1979, the Bachsas Award for Best Screenplay and Dialogue for the film “Masud Rana” in 1974 and the Academy Literary Award Bangla (1966), among others.
The body of Anwar Hossain will be brought to his residence in Segunbagicha tomorrow morning. After Zohr’s prayers, according to his last wish, he will be buried in Banani Cemetery in his mother’s grave.
