Shamsuzzaman Khan

Shamsuzzaman Khan (29 December 1940 – 14 April 2021) was a Bangladeshi academician, folklorist, and writer who served as president of the Bangla Academy from June 2020 until his death in April 2021. He also served as the director general of the academy during 2009–2018. He was notable for editing book series on folk culture of 64 different districts in 64 volumes and collections of folklore series in 114 volumes. He was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2001, Ekushey Padak in 2009 and Independence Day Award in 2017 by the government of Bangladesh.

Early life

Khan's father M.R. Khan was a translator at the government house of Calcutta. His great grandfather Elhadad Khan and his brother Adalat Khan were highly acclaimed intellectuals of colonial India. Shamsuzzaman's father died when he was only two. He was brought up by his mother and maternal grandmother. His contract for the position was extended three times until 23 May 2018. He also served as the director general of the Bangladesh National Museum and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

According to Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, "the critical judgment, historical insights and remarkable scholarship that Shamsuzzaman brings to his analyses and writings are altogether exceptional".

Death He died from complications of COVID-19 in Dhaka on 14 April 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

Awards Bangla Academy Literary Award (2001) Ekushey Padak (2009) Independence Day Award (2017)

Works Khan wrote more than seventy books on topics ranging from serious literary articles and folklore to children's literature. Folklore: New Challenges (2015)