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Yesterday was the second death anniversary of the 'unofficial poet laureate' of Bangladesh Shamsur Rahman. He died on August 17, 2006 of heart and kidney failure after having been in a coma for 12 days.

He was regarded as the one of the most prominent Bengali poets in the latter half of the 20th century. Major themes in his poetry and writings include liberal humanism, human relations, romanticised rebellion of youth, the emergence of and consequent events in Bangladesh, and opposition to religious fundamentalism.

Shamsur Rahman was born on October 24, 1929. He was not only a poet but also a columnist and journalist. He wrote more than sixty books of poetry and is considered a key figure in Bengali literature.

Shamsur Rahman was born in his grandfather's house 46 no. Mahuttuli, Dhaka. HIs paternal home is situated on the bank of the river Meghna, a village named Paratoli, near the Raipura thana of Narshingdi district. Fourth of thirteen children, he studied at Pogos High School from where he passed his matriculation in 1945. Later he took his IA From Dhaka College. He started writing poetry after graduating from Dhaka College at the age of eighteen. He studied English literature at Dhaka University for three years but did not attend the examination. After a break of three years he got admitted to the BA pass course and received his BA in 1953. He also received his MA in the same subject where he stood second in second division.

In his leisure after the matriculation, he read the 'Golpo Guccho' of Rabindranath Tagore. In his comment this book took him into the extra ordinary world and he changed into a different man. In 1949, his poem 'Unissho Unoponchash' was published in 'Sonar Bangla' which was then edited by Nalinikishor Guho.

He had a long career as a journalist and was the editor of a national daily, Dainik Bangla and the weekly Bichitra. He was an outspoken liberal intellectual against religious fundamentalism and reactionary nationalism in Bangladesh. As such, he was a frequent target of the politically conservative as well as Islamists of the country. This culminated in the January 1999 attack on his life by the militant Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami. He survived the attempt.

Shamsur Rahman's first book of poetry, 'Prothom Gan Ditio Mrittur Agay,' was published in 1960. He had to go through the political turbulence of 60's and 70's which also reflected on his poems clearly. He wrote his famous poem 'Asader Shirt' which was written with respect to the Revolution of 69.

During the Liberation War he wrote a bunch of extra ordinary poems based on the war. These poems were so inspiring that they were recited at the camps of freedom fighters.] Later these poems were published in 'Bondi Shibir Theke' in 1972. Later he continued writing poems in the independent Bangladesh and remained as the poet whose poems reflect the history of the nation. During the historical movement against Ershad he published his book 'Buk Tar Bangladesher Hridoy' indicating the great sacrifice of Nur Hossain.

Shamsur Rahman started his professional career as a co-editor in the English daily 'Morning News' in 1957. Later he left this job and went to the Dhaka center of the then Radio Pakistan. But he returned back to his own rank at 'Morning News' in 1960 and was there till 1964. After the liberation of Bangladesh he wrote columns in the daily Dainik Bangla. In 1977 he became the editor of this daily. He also jointly worked as the editor of 'Bichitra,' a popular weekly published since 1973. During the period of President Ershad he got involved with internal turbulence in the 'Dainik Bangla.' A rank 'Chief Editor' was created to take away his position as the editor and rip off all powers from him. In 1987 he left the daily as a protest against this injustice. He also worked as the editor of monthly literary magazine 'Adhunain' 1987. and as the main editor of the weekly 'Muldhara' in 1989. He worked as one of the editors of 'Kobikantha,' a poetry little magazine, in 1956.