Humayun Azad

Humayun Azad
(1947-2004)

The most prolific and versatile among the contemporary Bangladeshi literary critics, Dr Humayun Azad is also a linguist, novelist and a poet. His writings exposed the politics and ideology of the so-called Islamic fundamentalists of Bangladesh. The goons of Jamat-e-Islam, on instruction from one of the war criminals and the so-called Islamic Saidi, attempted to kill Dr Azad on February 27, 2004 while he was returning home from the Book Fair. A week prior to Dr Azad's assault, Saidi demanded, in the parliament, that Dr Azad's political satire Pak Sar Jamin Sad Bad (Paki National anthem)" be banned. Dr Azad was later sent to Thailand for treatment. Dr Azad however returned home in June, spirit intact but physically damaged beyond recognition. The Jamati leaders and preachers continued to threat Dr azad and his family members and kidnapped his son. Being under Jamati death threat Dr Azad then left Dhaka for Germany on a fellowship offered by PEN. Five days following his arrival in Munich Dr Azad was found dead in the morning of 14 August 2004.

The Islamists and Pakistan Military Intelligence were behind the death of Dr Azad. His book pak Sar Jamin Sad Bad is the first book by a Bangalee Muslim that has taken seriously the theme of profanity and irreverence. Apart from Salman Rushdi and Hanif Kureshi who write in English Dr Azad is the first Bangladeshi Muslim writer to use these novelistic genres. This novel exposes the hypocrisy and debauchery underlying the so-called Pakistan movement that emerged from the oriental studies and implemented by the British in Indian sub-continent. This book exposes the vile nature of the so-called Maududists who lead the Jamt-e-Islam in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The Pakistani Military Intelligence is alarmed because this book tends to hit the root of Islamic ideology.

Works:
1. Incorporeal Steamer (poetry) -73.
2. Tears Rapt in Funeral Attires
3. 56 Thousand Square Miles-95.
4. Things Fall Apart-96.
5. My Crimes as a Man.
6. The Death of the Magician-97.
7. The Politicians-73.
8. The State n the sociological Ideas-Essays of Rabindranath-83.
9. The Lone Mountaineer-Samsur Rahman-88.
10. The Dehumanization of Arts and other essays-90.
11.Language Movement-Literary Context-92.
12. Woman-92
13. Under the dark Shades of Fundamentalism-92.
14. Tranquil Night-92.
15. The bouncing boat-92.
16. The Eternal Seasons of Hell.
17. The Olive Darkness.
18. The Formula of Limitation.
19. Chittagong Hill Tracts: The Stream of Hatred Amidst the Green Hills-98.
20. The Second Sex (Translation).
21. Pronominalization in Bengali-83.
22. The Friend n Foes of Bangla Language-84-83.
23. Comparative n Historical Linguistics-88.
24. Bangla Language (Vol-I & II).
25. Fire worms in my breaspocket-93.
26. A Bunch of Angels of Our City.