Created by Bot
Last edited January 6, 2026
m robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.
Dwps (talk | contribs)
Improved article clarity and structure
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Bangladeshi educator}}
{{Short description|Bangladeshi educator}}
{{other people||Abu Sayeed (disambiguation)}}
{{other people||Abu Sayeed (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| name = Abdullah Abu Sayeed
| name = Abdullah Abu Sayeed
Line 7: Line 8:
| image      = Abdullah Abu Sayeed (cropped).jpg
| image      = Abdullah Abu Sayeed (cropped).jpg
| caption = Sayeed in 2014
| caption = Sayeed in 2014
| birth_date  =  {{Birth date and age|1939|07|25|df=y}}
| birth_date  =  {{Birth date and age|1940|07|25|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Park Circus]], [[Calcutta]], [[British India]] (now [[India]])
| birth_place  = [[Park Circus]], [[Calcutta]], [[British India]]
| nationality = [[Bangladesh]]i
| nationality = Bangladeshi
| institution =  
| institution =
| alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|[[University of Dhaka]]}}
| alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|[[University of Dhaka]]}}
| education = {{unbulleted list|[[BA Hons]] ([[Bengali language|Bengali]]) | [[Master of Arts|MA]] (Bengali)}}
| education = {{unbulleted list|[[BA Hons]] ([[Bengali language|Bengali]]) | [[Master of Arts|MA]] (Bengali)}}
Line 18: Line 19:
}}
}}


'''Abdullah Abu Sayeed''' (born 25 July 1939) is a Bangladeshi educator, writer, television presenter, and activist. He is the founder and chairman of [[Bishwa Sahitya Kendra]], a non-profit organization that promotes the study of literature, reading habits and progressive ideas.
'''Abdullah Abu Sayeed''' (born 25 July 1940) is a Bangladeshi educator, writer, television presenter, and activist. He is the founder and chairman of [[Bishwa Sahitya Kendra]], a non-profit organization that promotes the study of literature, reading habits, and progressive ideas.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Sayeed was born on 25 July 1939, to a [[Bengali Muslim]] family in [[Park Circus]], [[Calcutta]].<ref name="ds27Jul2011">{{cite news |title=The 'bookworm' in full form: Abdullah Abu Sayeed turns 72 |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-195884 |work=The Daily Star |date=2011-07-27 |access-date=2012-12-25}}</ref><ref name="rmaward" /> His father was Azimuddin Ahmed, a teacher of English and Bengali literature, and a playwright.<ref name="Hossain2000">{{cite book |editor1-last=Hossain |editor1-first=Selina |editor2-last=Islam |editor2-first=Nurul |editor3-last=Hossain |editor3-first=Mobarak |year=2000 |title=Bangla Academy Dictionary of Writers |publisher=Bangla Academy |page=2 |isbn=984-07-4052-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Lorraine Hahn|date=2005-01-14|title=Ramon Magsaysay Recipient Abdullah Abu Sayeed TalkAsia Transcript|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/14/talkasia.sayeed.script/|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref> Their ancestral home was in [[Kachua Upazila, Bagerhat|Kamargati]], [[Bagerhat District]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Abu Sayeed, Abdullah|year=2001|edition=2|location=[[Dhaka]]|title=বিস্রস্ত জর্নাল|publisher=Sahitya Prakash|language=bn}}</ref> Sayeed passed the [[Secondary School Certificate]] (SSC) exam from [[RM Academy, Pabna]] in 1955 and the [[Higher Secondary (School) Certificate|Higher Secondary Certificate]] (HSC) exam from Prafulla Chandra College in Bagerhat in 1957. He later earned [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] and [[Master of Arts|MA]] degrees in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] from the [[University of Dhaka]] in 1960 and 1961 respectively.<ref name="Hossain2000" />
Sayeed was born on 25 July 1939 to a [[Bengali Muslim]] family in [[Park Circus]], [[Calcutta]].<ref name="ds27Jul2011">{{cite news |title=The 'bookworm' in full form: Abdullah Abu Sayeed turns 72 |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-195884 |work=The Daily Star |date=2011-07-27 |access-date=2012-12-25 |archive-date=2019-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607181232/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-195884 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="rmaward" /> His father was Azimuddin Ahmed, a teacher of English and Bengali literature, and a playwright.<ref name="Hossain2000">{{cite book |editor1-last=Hossain |editor1-first=Selina |editor2-last=Islam |editor2-first=Nurul |editor3-last=Hossain |editor3-first=Mobarak |year=2000 |title=Bangla Academy Dictionary of Writers |publisher=Bangla Academy |page=2 |isbn=984-07-4052-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Lorraine Hahn |date=2005-01-14 |title=Ramon Magsaysay Recipient Abdullah Abu Sayeed TalkAsia Transcript |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/14/talkasia.sayeed.script/ |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=2012-12-15 |archive-date=2012-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005150445/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/14/talkasia.sayeed.script/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Their ancestral home was in [[Kachua Upazila, Bagerhat|Kamargati]], [[Bagerhat District]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Abu Sayeed, Abdullah |year=2001 |edition=2 |location=[[Dhaka]] |script-title=bn:বিস্রস্ত জর্নাল |publisher=Sahitya Prakash |language=bn}}</ref> Sayeed passed the [[Secondary School Certificate]] (SSC) exam from Radhanagar Mojumder Academy (School & College), [[Pabna]], in 1955 and the [[Higher Secondary (School) Certificate|Higher Secondary Certificate]] (HSC) exam from Prafulla Chandra College in [[Bagerhat]] in 1957. He later earned [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] and [[Master of Arts|MA]] degrees in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] from the [[University of Dhaka]] in 1960 and 1961, respectively.<ref name="Hossain2000" /> While studying at the [[University of Dhaka]], he organized, along with others, the birth centenary of the Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.<ref name="thefinancialexpress.com.bd">{{Cite web |title=Abdullah Abu Sayeed: Spreading the light of learning |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/reviews/abdullah-abu-sayeed-spreading-the-light-of-learning-1659710562 |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=The Financial Express |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822171429/https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/reviews/abdullah-abu-sayeed-spreading-the-light-of-learning-1659710562 |url-status=live}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Sayeed started his career as a guest teacher at Government Haraganga College, Munshiganj. Then he taught at Sylhet Women college for some time. In 1962 he joined [[Rajshahi College]] as a full-time teacher. After 5 months he joined [[Government Science College, Dhaka]]. He was also an acting principal for 2 years when he was only 23 years old. He also taught bangla as a part-time lecturer at [[BUET]]
Sayeed started his career as a guest teacher at Government Haraganga College, Munshiganj. Then he taught at Sylhet Women college for some time. In 1962 he joined [[Rajshahi College]] as a full-time teacher. After 5 months, he joined [[Government Science College, Dhaka]]. He was also an acting principal for 2 years when he was only 23 years old. He also taught Bangla as a part-time lecturer at [[BUET]]. He took voluntary retirement as a professor in April 1992.<ref name="thefinancialexpress.com.bd"/>


Sayeed gave an interview for the post of assistant professor.  Being impressed by Sayeed's brilliance and personality Dhaka College's renowned principal Jalaluddin Ahmed invited Sayeed to Dhaka College.
Sayeed gave an interview for the post of assistant professor.  Being impressed by Sayeed's brilliance and personality, Dhaka College's renowned principal Jalaluddin Ahmed invited Sayeed to Dhaka College.  
Sayeed later became the dept head of the Bengali language at [[Dhaka College]].<ref name="sw3Sep2004">{{cite news |author=Shamim Ahsan |date=2004-09-03 |title=Recognised for an Enlightening Pursuit |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/09/01/endeavour.htm |work=Star Weekend Magazine |publisher=The Daily Star |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref> He was very popular among his students. It is said that even students from other colleges came to attend his classes. He wrote a book on his teaching career named Nishfola Mather Krishok (Farmer of an infertile land)   He edited the literary magazine ''Kanthashar'' (''The Voice'') in the 1960s which promoted a new trend in Bangladeshi literature.<ref name="ds27Jul2011" /><ref name="rmaward" />
Sayeed later became the department head of the Bengali language at [[Dhaka College]].<ref name="sw3Sep2004">{{cite news |author=Shamim Ahsan |date=2004-09-03 |title=Recognised for an Enlightening Pursuit |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/09/01/endeavour.htm |work=Star Weekend Magazine |access-date=2012-12-15 }}</ref> He was very popular among his students. It is said that even students from other colleges came to attend his classes. He wrote a book on his teaching career named ''Nishfola Mather Krishok'' (''Farmer of an Infertile Land''). He edited the literary magazine ''Kanthashar'' (''The Voice'') in the 1960s, which promoted a new trend in Bangladeshi literature.<ref name="ds27Jul2011" /><ref name="rmaward" />


In the mid-1970s, he started presenting ''Shaptabarna'' (''Seven Colors''), a TV show on [[Bangladesh Television]].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} In the 1970s and 1980s, he also presented TV show ''Eid Anadamela''. He received the National Television Award in 1977.<ref name="ds5Feb2016">{{cite news|title=Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/supplements/star-lifetime-awardees-2016/prof-abdullah-abu-sayeed-212860|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=2016-02-05|access-date=2016-02-16}}</ref>
Sayeed started participating in TV programs in 1966. At first, he was a presenter of children's programs and quiz programs.<ref name="thefinancialexpress.com.bd"/> In the mid-1970s, he started presenting ''Shaptabarna'' (''Seven Colors''), a TV show on [[Bangladesh Television]].{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} Saptabarna was telecast once a week. It was a 90-minute-long program. In the 1970s and 1980s, he also presented the TV show ''Eid Anadamela''. He received the National Television Award in 1977.<ref name="ds5Feb2016">{{cite news |title=Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/supplements/star-lifetime-awardees-2016/prof-abdullah-abu-sayeed-212860 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=2016-02-05 |access-date=2016-02-16}}</ref>
 
In 1978, he founded the ''[[Bishwa Sahitya Kendra]]''. He has close association with Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).<ref name="thefinancialexpress.com.bd"/>


In 1978, he founded the ''[[Bishwa Sahitya Kendra]]''.
[[File:MZI-YH-AAS.jpg|right|thumb|260px|Abdullah Abu Sayeed (left), with Yasmeen Haque and [[Muhammed Zafar Iqbal]]]]
[[File:MZI-YH-AAS.jpg|right|thumb|260px|Abdullah Abu Sayeed (left), with Yasmeen Haque and [[Muhammed Zafar Iqbal]]]]


Line 40: Line 41:
* Bohe Joloboti Dhara (2006)
* Bohe Joloboti Dhara (2006)
* Bhalobashar Shampan (2007)
* Bhalobashar Shampan (2007)
* Bishwo Shahitto Kendro O Ami (2007)  
* Bishwo Shahitto Kendro O Ami (2007)
* Bisrosto Journal (2007)
* Bisrosto Journal (2007)
* Amar Uposthapok Jibon (2008)
* Amar Uposthapok Jibon (2008)
* Amar Ashabad (2009)
* Amar Ashabad (2009)
* Amar Boka Shoishob (2010)<ref name=80th>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/news/professor-abdullah-abu-sayeeds-80th-birth-anniversary-today-1776367|title=Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed's 80th birth anniversary today|date=2019-07-25|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24}}</ref>
* Mrityumoy O Chiraharit
* Swapna-Duhswapner Galpo
* Rodanruposhi
* Juddhajatra
* Sangathan O Bangali
* Amar Ashabad
* Amar Boka Shoishob (2010)<ref name="80th">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/news/professor-abdullah-abu-sayeeds-80th-birth-anniversary-today-1776367 |title=Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed's 80th birth anniversary today |date=2019-07-25 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |access-date=2019-07-24 |archive-date=2019-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724230859/https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/news/professor-abdullah-abu-sayeeds-80th-birth-anniversary-today-1776367 |url-status=live}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
* [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] (2004) in journalism, literature, and creative communication arts for "cultivating in the youth of Bangladesh a love for books and their humanizing values through exposure to the great works of Bengal and the world".<ref name="rmaward">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmaward.asia/awardees/sayeed-abdullah-abu/ |title=Sayeed, Abdullah Abu |website=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref>
* [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] (2004) in journalism, literature, and creative communication arts for "cultivating in the youth of Bangladesh a love for books and their humanizing values through exposure to the great works of Bengal and the world".<ref name="rmaward">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmaward.asia/awardees/sayeed-abdullah-abu/ |title=Sayeed, Abdullah Abu |website=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation |access-date=2012-12-15 |archive-date=2017-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911054940/http://rmaward.asia/awardees/sayeed-abdullah-abu/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
* National Television Award (1977)<ref name="ds5Feb2016" />
* National Television Award (1977)<ref name="ds5Feb2016" />
* Mahbub Ullah Trust Award (1998)<ref name="ds27Jul2011" />
* Mahbub Ullah Trust Award (1998)<ref name="ds27Jul2011" />
* [[Ekushey Padak]] (2005)<ref name="ds5Feb2016" />
* [[Ekushey Padak]] (2005)<ref name="ds5Feb2016" />
* [[Bangla Academy Literary Award]] (2011) for his essays<ref name="bdnews1">{{cite news |title=Bangla Academy prizes announced |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2012/02/18/bangla-academy-prizes-announced |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=2012-02-18 |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref>
* [[Bangla Academy Literary Award]] (2011) for his essays<ref name="bdnews1">{{cite news |title=Bangla Academy prizes announced |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/bangla-academy-prizes-announced |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=2012-02-18 |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref>
* Khan Muhammad Farabi Memorial Award (2012)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-251589|title=Prof Abu Sayeed gets Farabi memorial award|date=2012-09-28|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2018-08-10|language=en}}</ref>
* Khan Muhammad Farabi Memorial Award (2012)<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-251589 |title=Prof Abu Sayeed gets Farabi memorial award |date=2012-09-28 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=2018-08-10 |language=en |archive-date=2018-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810112628/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-251589 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Star Lifetime Award on Education (2016)<ref name="ds5Feb2016" />
* Star Lifetime Award on Education (2016)<ref name="ds5Feb2016" />
* 1st [[Nahar Kamal Ahmad]] Achievement Award (2025)


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
 
{{commons}}
{{Ramon Magsaysay Award Winners}}
{{Ramon Magsaysay Award Winners}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
Line 66: Line 74:
[[Category:Bangladeshi male writers]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi male writers]]
[[Category:University of Dhaka alumni]]
[[Category:University of Dhaka alumni]]
[[Category:Dhaka College faculty]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Dhaka College]]
[[Category:Ramon Magsaysay Award winners]]
[[Category:Ramon Magsaysay Award winners]]
[[Category:Recipients of Bangla Academy Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bangla Academy Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ekushey Padak]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ekushey Padak]]
[[Category:People from Bagerhat District]]
[[Category:People from Bagerhat District]]
[[Category:Pabna Zilla School alumni]]
[[Category:Government Prafulla Chandra College alumni]]

Latest revision as of 14:48, 6 January 2026


Abdullah Abu Sayeed
Sayeed in 2014
Sayeed in 2014
Native name
আবদুল্লাহ্ আবু সায়ীদ
Born (1940-07-25) 25 July 1940 (age 86)
Park Circus, Calcutta, British India
OccupationTeacher, writer, television presenter, activist
NationalityBangladeshi
Education
Alma mater
Notable awards

Signature

Abdullah Abu Sayeed (born 25 July 1940) is a Bangladeshi educator, writer, television presenter, and activist. He is the founder and chairman of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra, a non-profit organization that promotes the study of literature, reading habits, and progressive ideas.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Sayeed was born on 25 July 1939 to a Bengali Muslim family in Park Circus, Calcutta.[1][2] His father was Azimuddin Ahmed, a teacher of English and Bengali literature, and a playwright.[3][4] Their ancestral home was in Kamargati, Bagerhat District.[5] Sayeed passed the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam from Radhanagar Mojumder Academy (School & College), Pabna, in 1955 and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam from Prafulla Chandra College in Bagerhat in 1957. He later earned BA and MA degrees in Bengali from the University of Dhaka in 1960 and 1961, respectively.[3] While studying at the University of Dhaka, he organized, along with others, the birth centenary of the Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.[6]

Career[edit | edit source]

Sayeed started his career as a guest teacher at Government Haraganga College, Munshiganj. Then he taught at Sylhet Women college for some time. In 1962 he joined Rajshahi College as a full-time teacher. After 5 months, he joined Government Science College, Dhaka. He was also an acting principal for 2 years when he was only 23 years old. He also taught Bangla as a part-time lecturer at BUET. He took voluntary retirement as a professor in April 1992.[6]

Sayeed gave an interview for the post of assistant professor. Being impressed by Sayeed's brilliance and personality, Dhaka College's renowned principal Jalaluddin Ahmed invited Sayeed to Dhaka College. Sayeed later became the department head of the Bengali language at Dhaka College.[7] He was very popular among his students. It is said that even students from other colleges came to attend his classes. He wrote a book on his teaching career named Nishfola Mather Krishok (Farmer of an Infertile Land). He edited the literary magazine Kanthashar (The Voice) in the 1960s, which promoted a new trend in Bangladeshi literature.[1][2]

Sayeed started participating in TV programs in 1966. At first, he was a presenter of children's programs and quiz programs.[6] In the mid-1970s, he started presenting Shaptabarna (Seven Colors), a TV show on Bangladesh Television.[citation needed] Saptabarna was telecast once a week. It was a 90-minute-long program. In the 1970s and 1980s, he also presented the TV show Eid Anadamela. He received the National Television Award in 1977.[8]

In 1978, he founded the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra. He has close association with Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).[6]

Abdullah Abu Sayeed (left), with Yasmeen Haque and Muhammed Zafar Iqbal

Works[edit | edit source]

Sayeed has written and edited more than 50 books.[9]

  • Bidaye, Obonti (2005)
  • Bohe Joloboti Dhara (2006)
  • Bhalobashar Shampan (2007)
  • Bishwo Shahitto Kendro O Ami (2007)
  • Bisrosto Journal (2007)
  • Amar Uposthapok Jibon (2008)
  • Amar Ashabad (2009)
  • Mrityumoy O Chiraharit
  • Swapna-Duhswapner Galpo
  • Rodanruposhi
  • Juddhajatra
  • Sangathan O Bangali
  • Amar Ashabad
  • Amar Boka Shoishob (2010)[9]

Awards[edit | edit source]

  • Ramon Magsaysay Award (2004) in journalism, literature, and creative communication arts for "cultivating in the youth of Bangladesh a love for books and their humanizing values through exposure to the great works of Bengal and the world".[2]
  • National Television Award (1977)[8]
  • Mahbub Ullah Trust Award (1998)[1]
  • Ekushey Padak (2005)[8]
  • Bangla Academy Literary Award (2011) for his essays[10]
  • Khan Muhammad Farabi Memorial Award (2012)[11]
  • Star Lifetime Award on Education (2016)[8]
  • 1st Nahar Kamal Ahmad Achievement Award (2025)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The 'bookworm' in full form: Abdullah Abu Sayeed turns 72". The Daily Star. 27 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Sayeed, Abdullah Abu". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Hossain, Selina; Islam, Nurul; Hossain, Mobarak, eds. (2000). Bangla Academy Dictionary of Writers. Bangla Academy. p. 2. ISBN 984-07-4052-0.
  4. Lorraine Hahn (14 January 2005). "Ramon Magsaysay Recipient Abdullah Abu Sayeed TalkAsia Transcript". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  5. Abu Sayeed, Abdullah (2001). বিস্রস্ত জর্নাল (in Bengali) (2 ed.). Dhaka: Sahitya Prakash.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Abdullah Abu Sayeed: Spreading the light of learning". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  7. Shamim Ahsan (3 September 2004). "Recognised for an Enlightening Pursuit". Star Weekend Magazine. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed". The Daily Star. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed's 80th birth anniversary today". The Daily Star. 25 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  10. "Bangla Academy prizes announced". bdnews24.com. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  11. "Prof Abu Sayeed gets Farabi memorial award". The Daily Star. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.