Abdullah Abu Sayeed | |
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.jpg) Sayeed in 2014 | |
| Native name | আবদুল্লাহ্ আবু সায়ীদ |
| Born | (1940-07-25)25 July 1940 (age 85) |
| Occupation | Teacher, writer, television presenter, activist |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
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Abdullah Abu Sayeed (born 25 July 1940) is a Bangladeshi educator, writer, television presenter, and activist. He is the founder and chairman ofBishwa Sahitya Kendra, a non-profit organization that promotes the study of literature, reading habits, and progressive ideas.
Sayeed was born on 25 July 1939 to aBengali Muslim family inPark 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 inKamargati,Bagerhat District.[5] Sayeed passed theSecondary School Certificate (SSC) exam from Radhanagar Mojumder Academy (School & College),Pabna, in 1955 and theHigher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam from Prafulla Chandra College inBagerhat in 1957. He later earnedBA andMA degrees inBengali from theUniversity of Dhaka in 1960 and 1961, respectively.[3] While studying at theUniversity of Dhaka, he organized, along with others, the birth centenary of the Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.[6]
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 joinedRajshahi College as a full-time teacher. After 5 months, he joinedGovernment 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 atBUET. 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 atDhaka 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 namedNishfola Mather Krishok (Farmer of an Infertile Land). He edited the literary magazineKanthashar (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 presentingShaptabarna (Seven Colors), a TV show onBangladesh 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 showEid Anadamela. He received the National Television Award in 1977.[8]
In 1978, he founded theBishwa Sahitya Kendra. He has close association with Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).[6]
Sayeed has written and edited more than 50 books.[9]
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