Hasan Hafizur Rahman was a poet, journalist and critic. He was born on 14 July 1932 at his maternal uncle’s residence. His ancestral home was in the village of Kulkandi under Jamalpur district.

The noted personality had completed his Bachelors and Masters in Bangla Language and Literature in 1951 and 1955 respectively from the University of Dhaka.

Rahman had a full and diverse professional life. He began his career in 1952 as assistant editor of the weekly Begum. Subsequently he worked for Saogat, Ittehad, Dainik Bangla and others.

In 1972, he was elected president of the editorial board of the Dainik Bangla. He was also a Professor of Bangla Language and Literature at Jagannath College, and worked at different missions of Bangladesh abroad.

Rahman started writing while still a student. In 1946, while studying at school, his first short story, “Asrubheja Path Chalte”, was published in Saogat. In 1949, the Sonar Bangla published his first poem.

During that time, he became associated with the Dhaka Progressive Writers and Artists Association. He actively took part in the Language Movement of 1952, that inspired him to write his famous poem “Amar Ekushey”.

In 1953, the first compilation work on the Language Movement “Ekushey February” was published under his editorship. He was an associate of Sikander Abu Zafar in editing the literary journal Samakal.

Rahman was involved with several socio-cultural movements. In 1954, he was elected literary secretary of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and edited a monthly magazine Spectra.

He was committed to Bengali nationalism and culture. In 1971 he took part in the Liberation War. He was a socially conscious writer, and his writings reflect the hope, suffering and protests of the masses.

Perhaps the most important contribution of Hasan Hafizur Rahman was his editorship of the documents of the War of Liberation, published as “Bangladesher Shadhinota Judhho: Dalilpatra”, (1982-83), in 16 volumes.

Among his significant writings are Bimukh Prantar (1963), Arta Shabdabali (1968), Yakhan Udyat Sabgin (1972), Bajre Chera Andhar Amar (1976), Shokarta Tarbari (1982), Amar Bhetarer Bagh (1983), Adhunik Kavi O Kavita (1965), Mulyabodher Janye (1970), Sahitya Prasabga (1973), Simanta Shibire (1967), Daksiner Janala (1974), Pratibimva (1976), Aro Duti Mrtyu (1970). He also translated Homer`s Odyssey into Bangla and jointly edited Uttar Banger Meyeli Git (1962).

The legendary poet received several awards for his literary achievements, among them the Pakistan Lekhak Sangha Award, the Adamjee Prize (1967), the Bangla Academy Award (1971), the Sufi Motahar Hosen Memorial Award (1976), the Alakta Sahitya Award (1981), the Saogat Literary Award and Nasiruddin Gold Medal (1982), and Ekushey Padak (1984, posthumous).

The man of many skills Hasan Hafizur Rahman died on 1 April 1983 at Moscow Central Clinical Hospital.