Zahir Raihan talented film makers of BD

Zahir Raihan was one of the most talented film

makers in Bangladesh. He was born on 19 August

1935 in the village Majupur in Feni district. He was

an active worker of the Language Movement. He was

one of the ten students to go out in a procession on 21

February 1952 despite a ban on such activities imposed

by the authorities. As a result, he and many others

were arrested and taken to prison. Raihan was also

present at the historical meeting of Amtala on 21 February

1952. He also took part in the mass movement in

1969. In 1971, he joined the Liberation War

All through his life, Zahir Raihan dreamt of a democratic society, a society that

would ensure freedom of speech. He had many dreams about our film industry

too. He made a legendary film Jibon Theke Neya based on the Language

Movement of 1952. It was a protest against the autocratic government then

ruling our country. The family portrayed in that film symbolically represented

East Pakistan. The family was ruled by an autocrat who had to go to prison for

her conspiracy. During the Liberation War in 1971, this film was shown outside

Bangladesh. Celebrated film makers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik

Ghatak appreciated the film. Raihan gave all the money the film made to the

Freedom Fighters' trust, Besides, his great documentary on Pakistani atrocities

Stop Genocide, helped create world sentiment in favour of our liberation war

On 30 December 1971, someone informed Raihan about an address somewhere

at Mirpur where he might find his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser

who had gone missing from 14 December 1971. Kaiser was captured and killed

by the Pakistani army and the local collaborators during the last days of the war

Accordingly, Raihan left home to get his brother back but he never returned

Zahir Raihan's dream was fulfilled. He could see the emergence of an

independent Bangladesh though he did not get back his brother. And it's a pity

that this dreamer could not live to see his dream come true.