| Qazi Anwar Hussain | |
| Birth Date: | 19 July 1936 |
| Birth Place: | Dhaka, Bengal Presidency, British Raj |
| Death Place: | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Other Names: | Bidyut Mitra, Shamsuddin Nawab |
| Education: | MA (Bengali) |
| Alma Mater: | University of Dhaka |
| Spouse: | Farida Yasmin |
| Children: | 3 |
| Father: | Qazi Motahar Hossain |
Qazi Anwar Hussain (19 July 1936 – 19 January 2022)[1] was a renowned Bangladeshi writer known for his contributions to spy thrillers, detective novels, and adventure-based literature, many of which were adaptations or heavily influenced by foreign works.
Qazi Shamsuddin Anwar Hussain was born on 19 July 1936 to Qazi Motahar Hossain, a scientist and writer.[2] [1] Several of Qazi Anwar Hussain's siblings also made notable contributions to the arts, including his late brother Qazi Mahbub Husain, sister Zobaida Mirza (professor and author), and sisters Sanjida Khatun, Fahmida Khatun, and Mahmuda Khatun, all singers. He matriculated from St. Gregory's School in 1952. He pursued his studies in Bengali literature and language, earning a bachelor's degree from Jagannath College, and a master's degree from the University of Dhaka in 1981.
His most notable publication was the spy-thriller series Masud Rana. As of 2009, the series comprised 389 books, most of them ghostwritten for him.[3]
In 1963, Hussain established publishing house Segunbagan Prakashani. By 1966 it was renamed Sheba Prokashoni. Sheba Prokashoni gained recognition for its publication of both world literature translations and original works. Over the years, the publishing house has nurtured numerous successful authors, including Sheikh Abdul Hakim, Rakib Hasan, Niaz Murshed, Asaduzzaman, Masud Mahmud, Khosru Chowdhury, Tipu Kibriya, and Anish Das Opu. Sheba Prokashoni's sister company, Projapoti, specializes in hardbound publications.
Hussain married the accomplished singer Farida Yasmin. Together they had two sons, Qazi Maimur and Qazi Shahnur, and a daughter, Shahrin Sonia. In October 2021, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He died on 19 January 2022 at the age of 85 while receiving treatment at BIRDEM in Dhaka.[4]
The Masud Rana series follows the adventures of Rana, a former major in the Bangladesh Army who operates as a spy, conducting missions around the world. His superior is Major General Rahat Khan of Bangladesh Counter Intelligence, and Rana works under the jurisdiction of the Rana Agency. Prior to the author's passing, Hussain published 321 stories in 468 books within the series. Below are a few titles from this renowned collection:
Anwar's other famous work is Kuasha series of detective/adventure books, which consists of 51 stories in 80 books.
Kuasha is a scientist, detective and adventurer hero who works for the development of science to try to eradicate evils from society and offer a helping hand to the distressed or helpless. In his many adventures, Kuasha worked with detective Shahid Khan, his wife Mahua, friend Kamal Ahmed, and Caretaker Gafur. Mahua is Kuasha's sister, married to Shahid Khan. The Kuasha series revolves around this family dedicated to the service to mankind for peace, love and harmony.
Non-fiction
| Award Title | Category | Movie | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best screenplay writer | Masud Rana | [5] | ||
| Best dialogue |
Qazi Anwar Hussain left behind a significant body of work, earning him a lasting place in the literary landscape of Bangladesh. His published Masud Rana series continues to captivate readers with its thrilling adventures and enduring popularity.