Khalekdad Chowdhury

Khalekdad Chowdhury (; 2 February 1907 – 16 October 1985), also known by pen names Shahadat Chowdhury and Atashbaz, is a reputed Bangladeshi writer, playwright and novelist. In recognition of his contribution to Bengali language and literature, the government of Bangladesh posthumously awarded him the country's second highest civilian award Ekushey Padak in 2018.

Early life and family Chowdhury was born on 2 February 1907 in his maternal home at the village of Changaon in Madan, Netrokona of the erstwhile Bengal Presidency's Mymensingh district. He belonged to a Bengali Muslims family and was the eldest of Nawab Ali Chowdhury and Najmunnessa Chowdhury's eight sons and two daughters. Chowdhury's paternal home was in the village of Sonajor in Atpara, and they were descendants of one of the 16th-century Baro-Bhuiyan families. Following the Battle of Plassey in 1757, his ancestors had found refuge in the Gazipur. Later, two brothers named Ghazi Lashkar and Ghazi Askar from this family settled in the Pargana of Alapsingh in present-day Mymensingh Division. The younger brother, Ghazi Askar, permanently settled in Sonajor, where his descendants live and were granted the title of Chowdhury. Khalekdad Chowdhury is the fifth generational descendant of Ghazi Askar.

Education Chowdhury's education began at the Nazirganj Primary School in 1911, and then at the Jahangirpur School in Madan in 1916. The following year, Chowdhury enrolled at the Datta High School from where he passed his first-class matriculation in 1924. He proceeded to study at the Lord Ripon College in Kolkata, and later at the Islamia College of Calcutta where he received his Bachelor of Arts in English.

Works He has published 15 books including novels, short stories, essays, translations, plays etc: Ekti Atmar Apamrittu Raktakta Adhyay Chand Beger Garh Shap Marir Abhishap E Mati Rokte Ranga

His translation books are: Maru Sahara Baharistan-i-Ghaibi, four volumes, (Divya Prakash, Dhaka) Al Bakar Dwip Bishwa Sahitya Parichay Abhishapta Masnad (play) Shatabdir Dui Diganta (autobiographical work)