The 90th anniversary of the birth of the late eminent filmmaker, writer, journalist, Language Movement veteran and freedom fighter Zahir Raihan was observed on Tuesday.
Zahir Raihan Film Institute organised a commemorative event comprising a seminar, recitation, music show and film screening at the Vintage Convention Hall at Dhanmondi, Dhaka, marking the day.
National Education and Culture Movement member secretary Rustam Ali Khokon presented the keynote paper at the seminar titled 鈥楾he Philosophy and Struggles of Filmmaker Zahir Raihan in the Bengali Liberation Movement.鈥�
Bangladesh Chhatra Union president Mahir Shahriar Reza, journalist and film critic Bidhan Riberu, Udichi Central Committee acting president Mahmud Selim, and Zahir Raihan鈥檚 son Anol Rayhan spoke at the event.聽
The Zahir Raihan Film Institute general secretary, Pradip Ghosh, delivered welcome speech, Belayet Hossain and Hafeza Ata recited from Zahir Raihan鈥檚 writings and Ashikur Rahman rendered solo songs at the event.
After the discussion, Zahir Raihan鈥檚 20-minute film titled 鈥楽top Genocide鈥� was screened at the venue.
Zahir Raihan was born on August 19, 1935, in Majupur, Feni. He started working as a journalist in 1950 and eventually became the editor of Probaho in 1956.
Apart from being a filmmaker, he was also an acclaimed writer. Raihan made his film debut as an assistant director in the film 鈥楯ago Huya Sabera鈥� in 1957. He completed his first CinemaScope film titled 鈥楤ahana鈥� in the following year.
He actively participated in the Language Movement in 1952 and was present at the historic meeting of Amtala on February 21, 1952.
The Language Movement influenced him so much that he later made his acclaimed film 鈥楯ibon Theke Neya鈥� based on the movement.
In 1971, Raihan joined the War of Independence and made several documentary films on the war, including 鈥楽top Genocide鈥�.
He disappeared on January 30, 1972, while trying to find his brother, Shahidullah Kaiser, who was last seen in December 1971.
