Abdullah Abu Sayeed


Abdullah Abu Sayeed is a Bangladeshi teacher, writer, television presenter, and activist. He is currently the chairman of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra, a non-profit organization that promotes the study of literature, reading habits and progressive ideas.

Early life

Sayeed was born on 25 July 1939 in Park Circus, Calcutta. His father was Azimuddin Ahmed, a teacher of English and Bengali literature, and a playwright. Sayeed passed the Secondary School Certificate exam from RM Academy, Pabna in 1955 and the Higher Secondary Certificate exam from Prafulla Chandra College in Bagerhat in 1957. He later earned BA and MA degrees in Bengali from the University of Dhaka in 1960 and 1961 respectively.

Career

Sayeed was a professor of the Bengali language at Dhaka College. He edited the literary magazine Kanthashar in the 1960s which promoted a new trend in Bangladeshi literature.
In the mid-1970s, he started presenting Shaptabarna, a TV show on Bangladesh Television. In the 1970s and 1980s, he also presented TV show Eid Anadamela. He received the National Television Award in 1977.
In 1978, he founded the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra.

Works

Sayeed has written and edited more than 50 books.