Abul Fazal (1 July 1903–4 May 1983) was a

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

i writer and academic. He served as the 4th

vice-chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth of Nati ...

University of Chittagong The University of Chittagong () also known as Chittagong University (CU), is a public research university located in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It was established on 18 November 1966. It is the fifth oldest university of Bangladesh. Having an area ...

. He was awarded

Bangla Academy Literary Award The Bangla Academy Literary Award (; ''Bangla Academy Shahitya Puroshkar'') is given by the Bangla Academy of Bangladesh in recognition of creative genius in advancement and overall contribution in the field of Bengali language and literature. ...

in 1962 and

Independence Day Award The Independence Award (), formally known as the Independence Day Award or Swadhinata Padak (), is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. Introduced in 1977 by President Ziaur Rahman, this award is bestowed upon Banglade ...

in 2012 (posthumously).

Early life and education

Fazal was born at Satkania Upazila in

Chittagong District Chittagong District (), ( Chatgaiya: Sitang/Chatga), officially Chattogram District, is a district located in south-eastern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chittagong Division. Due to its geographical location, Chittagong is classified as a s ...

in 1903 to Moulvi Fazlur Rahman, an

Imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

of Chittagong Jame Masjid. Fazal earned B.A. from the

University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public university, public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country. The University of Dhaka w ...

. He passed M.A. in Bengali language and literature from

Calcutta University The University of Calcutta, informally known as Calcutta University (), is a Public university, public State university (India), state university located in Kolkata, Calcutta (Kolkata), West Bengal, India. It has 151 affiliated undergraduate c ...

in 1940.

Career

Fazal began his career as an Imam. He taught in multiple schools as a teacher. In 1941, he became a professor of Krishnanagar College and later of

Chittagong College Chittagong College is a public educational institution in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It is a higher secondary school and also a degree awarding college of National University, Bangladesh. It is the second higher secondary school in the region that ...

. He served as the

of the

from 1973 to 1975. Fazal served as a member in charge of education and culture of the advisory council of the Government of Bangladesh during 1975–23 June 1977.

Works

Fazal wrote in a variety of genres: novels, short stories, plays, memoirs, travels etc. He also wrote about religion. Some of his writings include Matir Prthibi (1940), Bichitra Katha (1940), Rekhachitra (1966) and Durdiner Dinlipi (1972).

Novels

* ''Chouchir'' (''Splintered'', 1934) * ''Prodip O Patongo'' (''Torch and Insects'', 1940) * ''Ranga Probhat'' (''The Crimson Dawn'', 1957) * ''Khuda O Asha'' (''Hunger and Hope'', 1964).

Awards

(1962) * President's National Award (1966) * Adamjee Literary Award (1966) * Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dhaka (1974) * The Nasiruddin Gold Medal (1980) * The Muktadhara Literary Award (1981) * The Abdul Hai Literary Award (1982) *

(2012)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fazal, Abul 1903 births 1983 deaths Bangladeshi male writers Bengali writers Bengali-language writers Recipients of Bangla Academy Award Recipients of the Independence Award Vice-chancellors of the University of Chittagong Recipients of the Adamjee Literary Award People from Satkania Upazila People from Chittagong District Kabi Nazrul Government College alumni