The 74th birth anniversary of legendary writer, lyricist, academician, playwright and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed was observed on Sunday.

Often regarded as one of the best writers in Bengali literature Humayun Ahmed is credited with revitalising Bengali literature and is best known for his iconic fictional characterisations such as Himu, Misir Ali, Baker Bhai and others, as well as for his magic-realism based storytelling.

Making the breakthrough in the Bengali litmosphere with his debut novel Nondito Noroke, published in 1972, Humayun wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh and are still popular among his readers.

Unanimously regarded as the bestseller author at the Ekushey Book Fairs during the 1990s and 2000s, the majestic litterateur received Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Lekhak Shibir Award, Shishu Academy Award, Michael Madhusudan Padak, Bachsas Award and more, for his outstanding contributions to the Bengali culture and entertainment sphere.

As a successful content-maker in television, Humayun debuted with his drama Prothom Prohor for Bangladesh Television in 1983. His successful journey in television continued with popular drama serials Ei Shob Din Ratri, Bohubrihi, Ayomoy, Nokkhotrer Raat, Aaj Robibar and most notably, Kothao Keu Nei for the character of Baker Bhai played by eminent actor Asaduzzaman Noor.

Humayun Ahmed also explored success as a filmmaker in the early 1990s and went on to make a total of eight films in his filmmaking career, each based on his own novels. Two of his films, Sjyamol Chhaya (2004) and Ghetuputra Komola (2012) were the official Bangladeshi submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in their respective releasing years.

He received seven Bangladesh National Film Awards in different categories for the films Shonkhonil Karagar, Aguner Poroshmoni, Daruchini Dwip and Ghetuputra Komola.

Commemorating his life and legacy, family members and different organisations along with his admirers are set to observe Humayun Ahmed’s birth anniversary today.

Humayun Ahmed’s widow and cultural personality Meher Afroz Shaon, alongside their sons Nishad Humayun and Ninith Humayun, began the day with admirers of the legendary litterateur at their house Dakhin Hawa in the capital through a cake-cutting ceremony at 12:00am.

Himu Paribahan, a noted fan group of the eminent writer, has been observing his birth anniversary for many years. It organised a special procession where the members walked barefoot on the Dhaka University campus and placed floral wreaths on Humayun’s grave in Nuhash Polli, Gazipur, in the morning.

Among other events, Channel-i will organise a daylong Humayun Mela at its Tejgaon office and theatre troupe Bahubachan will premiere its play Ami Ebong Amra, based on the famous book of Humayun’s Misir Ali series, at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at 6:30pm.