Ahmad Mostofa Kamal

Ahmad Mostofa Kamal (born 14 December 1969) is a Bangladeshi writer and academic. He is currently a professor at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). He received Prothom Alo Book of the Year Award in 2007 (Bengali year 1413), Kali O Kolom Young Poets and Writers Award in 2009, Gemcon Literary Award in 2013, City-Anand Alo Literary Award in 2018, and Purbo-Paschim Literary Award in 2021 for his creative literary works.

Early life & education Kamal was born on 14 December 1969 in Manikganj District. His father was Muhammad Ahmadul Haque and mother was Meherunnesa Ahmed. He is the youngest of eight siblings, with five brothers and two sisters.

He completed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) from Patgram Anatha Bandhu Government High School in Manikganj in 1986. He earned his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) from Notre Dame College, in 1988. He received a bachelor's degree in Physics from University of Dhaka in 1992 and a master's degree in 1993. Later, he obtained an MPhil in 2003 and a PhD in 2010 from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He is currently a professor at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).

Literary career He began writing in the early 1990s. His first short story collection, Ditiyo Manush (The Second Person), was published in 1998. Since then, he has published fourteen short story collections, ten novels (including one novella), five collections of literary essays, four collections of personal essays, one travelogue and one book of science essays. He has also edited several literary anthologies.

His first novel, Agantuk (The Stranger), introduced themes that would become central to his work, including human alienation, displacement and the role of memory. His fourth short story collection, Ghorvoroti Manush Othoba Noishobdyo (A House Full of People or Silence), won Prothom Alo Book of the Year Award in 2007. His second novel, Andho Jadukar (The Blind Magician), received Kali O Kolom Young Poets and Writers Award in 2009, while his third novel, Kannaporbo (Chapter of Tears), won Gemcon Literary Award in 2013.

His novel Niruddesh Jatra (Journey into the Unknown), published in 2018, explores themes such as the movement against military rule, Partition of India, displacement, communal violence, famine, autonomy movement and Bangladesh Liberation War.

Published works

Short story collections

Novels

Essays

Personal essays

Interview book TitleFirst publishedPublisherTahader Songe KathopokathonFebruary 2017Rodela

Science essays TitleFirst publishedPublisherAmader Mohajagatik PorichoyMay 2019Prothoma

Travel writing TitleFirst publishedPublisherPakhir Chokhe DekhaFebruary 2020Sandesh

Edited books

Bangalir Sangskritichinta, Volumes 1–4 (Bishwo Sahitya Kendra) Bangladesher Chotogalpo, Volumes 1–2 (Bishwo Sahitya Kendra) Bangasahityer Sera Golpo (Young readers' anthology; Bishwo Sahitya Kendra) Shreshtha Golpo: Syed Waliullah (Bishwo Sahitya Kendra) Shreshtha Golpo: Abu Ishak (Bishwo Sahitya Kendra) Shreshtha Golpo: Syed Shamsul Haq (Bishwo Sahitya Kendra) Shreshtha Golpo: Hasan Azizul Haque (Bishwo Sahitya Kendra) Shreshtha Golpo: Rahat Khan (Bishwo Sahitya Kendra) Shreshtha Golpo: Abdul Mannan Syed (Bishwo Sahitya Kendra) Roudra Chhayar Khela (Rabindranath Tagore stories for young readers; Shuddhaswar) Hironmoy Kathokota: Selected Interviews of Mahmudul Haque (Pendulum)

Awards

Year Award Work Result 2007 Prothom Alo Book of the Year Award Ghorvoroti Manush Othoba Noishobdyo (A House Full of People or Silence) 2009 Kali O Kolom Young Writers' Award Andho Jadukar (The Blind Magician) 2013 Gemcon Literary Award Kannaporbo (Chapter of Tears) 2018 City-Anand Alo Literary Award Ghorvoroti Manush Othoba Noishobdyo (A House Full of People or Silence) 2021 Purbo-Paschim Literary Award —