Famous Bangladeshi Writers

The Rebel Poet of Bengal Kazi Nazrul Islam is remembered for his vast body of literary work, including poems and songs written during the British Raj, mostly laced with socio-political overtones. His songs, known as Nazrul Geeti, are the staple for any Bengali household. He is also Bangladesh’s national poet.

Bangladeshi novelist and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed boasted of a PhD in polymer chemistry and had even taught at the University of Dhaka. His mostly depicted the struggle of the middle-class through his works. His films such as Aguner Poroshmoni won him multiple National Film Awards. He died battling colon cancer.

Taslima Nasrin is a Bangladeshi-Swedish writer, feminist, physician, activist, and secular humanist. An internationally recognized author, Nasrin is renowned for expressing feminist views and her criticisms of religions. Taslima Nasrin is a recipient of many prestigious awards such as the Sakharov Prize, Freethought Heroine Award, and Erwin Fischer Award.

Lalon, also known as Lalon Fakir, or Lalon Shah, was an iconic Baul saint, considered a symbol of Bengali culture. Since his poems and songs belonged to the oral tradition, they weren’t published during his lifetime. Eventually, Rabindranath Tagore published about 200 songs from one of Lalon’s manuscripts.

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is a Bangladeshi author, physicist, activist, and academic. Iqbal is credited with introducing and popularizing science fiction novels and stories in the Bengali language. Over the years, he has won several prestigious literary awards, such as the Khalekdad Chowdhury Literary Award, Sheltech Literary Award, Uro Child Literary Award, and Md. Mudabber-Husne ara literary Award.

Award-winning Bangladeshi poet Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah began writing poems early in his life, publishing his first two collections long before he acquired his master’s degree from the University of Dhaka. Remembered for his revolutionary as well as romantic poems, he died of depression and substance abuse, leaving a suicide poem, Bhalo Achi Bhalo Theko, for his ex-wife Taslima Nasrin.

Marzuk Russell is a noted Bangladeshi lyricist, poet, model, and actor, born a year after his country’s liberation from Pakistani rule. He began writing poems while in the eighth grade, debuting as a lyrist in late 1990s and as an actor in 2000; he published his first collection of poems in the same year.

Zahir Raihan was a noted Bangladeshi short story writer, novelist and filmmaker. Director of Jeebon Theke Neya (1970) and Stop Genocide (1971) he also participated in the 1969 mass uprising and was possibly killed in 1972 by the opponent of Liberation War.

Bangladeshi poet and author Jasimuddin, also known as Polli Kobi, or The Rural Poet, was one of the key figures of the Bengali language movement. Best known for his lyric poems such as Nakshi Kanthar Math, and for his use of Bengali folklore, he created a stir by rejecting the Bangla Academy Award.

Abul Hayat is a Bangladeshi actor, writer, director, and civil engineer. He is best known for his performance in the 2007 Bengali-language film Daruchini Dwip, which earned him the Bangladesh National Film Award under the Best Supporting Actor category. In 2015, his contributions to Bangladeshi cinema were honored with the Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh.

Rubana Huq is a Bangladeshi poet, university academic, and businesswoman. She was included in BBC's 100 Women list in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, she was also honored by The Daily Star with the Bangladesh Business Award under the Outstanding Business Women of The Year category. Rubana Huq is currently serving as the Asian University for Women's Vice-chancellor.

Syed Mujtaba Ali was a Bangladeshi writer, travel enthusiast, journalist, academic, linguist, and scholar. Born into a Bengali Muslim family in British India, Ali was an ardent supporter of the Bengali language. He was one of the first activists to call for Bengali as the state language of East Pakistan. He was honored with the Narsinghadas Prize and Ekushey Padak.

Ahmed Sofa was a Bangladeshi writer, novelist, poet, public intellectual, philosopher, and thinker. Counted among the most prominent and greatest Bengali Muslim writers of all time, Sofa and his works continue to influence and inspire many writers, painters, filmmakers, intellectuals, and artists. Ahmed Sofa’s works have influenced popular personalities like Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, Humayun Ahmed, Farhad Mazhar, and Tareque Masud.

Salimullah Khan is a Bangladeshi writer best known for exploring politics and culture using Lacanian and Marxist theories. His exploration of his country's culture and politics has a huge following among young Bangladeshi writers and thinkers. Salimullah Khan is credited with translating the works of James Rennell, Plato, and Charles Baudelaire into Bengali. He won the Ranajit Award in 2020.

Shamsur Rahman was a Bangladeshi poet, journalist, and columnist. Widely regarded as an important figure in Bengali literature, Rahman was considered Bangladesh's unofficial poet laureate. A prolific writer, he produced over 60 books of poetry collection. Shamsur Rahman was honored with several prestigious awards like the Bangla Academy Literary Award, Adamjee Award, Swadhinata Dibosh Award, Ekushey Padak, and Ananda Puroshker.      

Sufia Kamal was a Bangladeshi poet, activist, and feminist leader. Kamal led the feminist activism in Bangladesh and served as the president of a women's human rights organization called Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. She received prestigious awards, including the Bangla Academy Literary Award for Literature. After her demise, she became the first Bangladeshi woman to be honored with a state funeral.

Chandan Sen is a Bengali actor, director, and playwright. He is best known for his portrayal of Prof. Chandan Sen in a television soap opera titled Ichche Nodee. He is also known for appearing in many other Indian Bengali TV series and films.

Munier Choudhury was a Bangladeshi playwright, educationist, political dissident, and literary critic. He spent most of his time fighting against Pakistan's aspiration of eradicating the Bengali language in East Pakistan. He even renounced the Sitara-e-Imtiaz given by the Pakistani government and took part in the non-co-operation movement. In 1980, Munier Choudhury was posthumously honored with the prestigious Independence Day Award.

Shahidullah Kaiser was a Bangladeshi writer and novelist. Kaiser took an active part in the Bengali language movement and was arrested on a couple of occasions by the Pakistani government before disappearing during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was the recipient of several prestigious awards such as Adamjee Literary Award, Bangla Academy Literary Award, Ekushey Padak, and Independence Day Award.

Humayun Azad was a Bangladeshi poet, short-story writer, novelist, columnist, critic, and linguist. In 1986, he was honored with the Bangla Academy Literary Award for his immense contributions to Bengali linguistics. Apart from writing over 60 titles, he also served as a professor at The University of Dhaka. In 2012, Humayun Azad was honored posthumously with the prestigious Ekushey Padak.

ATM Shamsuzzaman was a Bangladeshi actor, screen-playwright, and director. A six-time winner of the prestigious Bangladesh National Film Awards, Shamsuzzaman was renowned for his comedic acting skills. In 2015, ATM Shamsuzzaman was honored by the Government of Bangladesh with the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh.

Anisuzzaman was a Bangladeshi academic whose love for Bengali literature made him participate in the Bengali language movement as well as the Bangladesh Liberation War. He is also remembered for his literary work, which earned him several prestigious awards like the Bangla Academy Literary Award, Ananda Puraskar, Padma Bhushan, and Independence Day Award.

Kabir Chowdhury, who was named as the National Professor of Bangladesh, was a renowned essayist and translator of his time. He also wrote extensively on topics such as painting and sculpture and won awards such as the Ekushey Padak. Some of his most popular translations include The Metamorphosis and Beowulf.

Subir Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi author best known for his work pertaining to quality management issues. He has written several books on quality and management and is currently serving as the CEO and chairman of ASI Consulting Group, LLC. Subir Chowdhury has inspired the creation of many schools and foundations, including The Subir Chowdhury School of Quality and Reliability.

Farhad Mazhar is a Bangladeshi poet, writer, columnist, philosopher, human and social rights activist, pharmacist, and environmentalist. He is credited with co-founding a non-governmental organization called UBINIG, which aims at promoting social rights and responsibilities. Farhad Mazhar is currently serving as the managing director of the organization. 

Golam Sarwar was a Bangladeshi writer and journalist. He is best remembered as the founding editor of Daily Jugantor and Samakal. Golam Sarwar's contributions to Bengali literature earned him the prestigious Ekushey Padak in 2014.    

Tofail Ahmed was a Bangladeshi researcher of Folk Art. He is credited with authoring several books on Bangladeshi Crafts and Folk arts. Tofail Ahmed's immense contribution to Craft and Folk Arts earned him the prestigious Shilu Abed Karushilpa Award in 1998. 

Known as one of the modern poets of Bangladesh, Shahabuddin Nagari soared to fame in the 1970s and gained prominence as a lyricist. The Kabitalap Award winner also served as a Bangladesh government bureaucrat. He had also been part of the liberation war of Bangladesh.

Rabeya Khatun was a Bangladeshi novelist, essayist, and short story writer. Khatun, who wrote over 400 short stories and more than 50 novels, was honored with the prestigious Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1973. Rabeya Khatun was also a recipient of Ekushey Padak, Anannya Literature Award, and Independence Day Award among many other awards.  

Jahanara Arzu is a Bangladeshi poet best known for her work as the founding editor of a popular publication called Sultana. Jahanara Arzu's immense contribution to Bengali literature earned her the prestigious Ekushey Padak in 1987.