Ahmed Sharif

Ahmed Sharif (February 13, 1921 – February 24, 1999) was an educationist, philosopher, critic, writer and scholar of medieval Bengali literature.^[2]

Background

Dr Ahmed Sharif was born on 13 February 1921 in Patiya, Chittagong District, did his Masters and Ph. D degrees in Bengali literature from the University of Dhaka, in 1944 and 1967 respectively. From 1945 to 1949, he taught at Laksham Nawab Faizunnessa College and later on at Feni College. From July 1949 to 17 December 1950 he worked as Programme Assistant at the Dhaka station of the Radio Pakistan. Finally, on December 18, 1950 he joined as Research Assistant in the Bengali Department, University of Dhaka and retired as Chairman and Professor in 1983.

During his time at the DU he was elected a member of the Senate, Syndicate, and the President of Teachers Association and the University Teachers Club. Dr. Sharif remained the only person who was elected the Dean of the Faculty of Arts for three consecutive terms. After his retirement from the Dhaka University, he was offered to join as first "Kazi Nazrul Islam Professor" at the University of Chittagong, where he served from 1984 to 1986.

He was one of the founding members of the 33 member Committee for Civil Liberties and Legal Aid which was established to protect the opposition politicians and members of civil society who were facing the wrath of the government on March 31, 1974.^[3]

Views

Ahmed Sharif is widely recognized as one of the most outspoken atheist and radical thinkers of Bangladesh.^[2]

In 1996, He gave insights into the history of the Bangladesh Liberation War.^[4]

Awards

He was the recipient of many honours and awards for his outstanding contribution in the field of medieval Bengali literature and contemporary sociocultural and political essays.

He received the Bangla Academy Literary Prize, Daud Literary Prize Ekushey Padak in 1991.

Death

He died on 24 February 1999, in Dhaka.

References