| Samad, Laila (1928-1989) journalist,
litterateur, actress, was born in Kolkata on 3 April 1928. Her father,
Khan Bahadur Hamidul Haque, who hailed from Mirzapur village under the
district of Dinajpur, was a government official of British India. Laila
studied at Nari Shikshika Mandir and Sakhawat Memorial School, from where
she passed the Entrance examination in 1942. She studied at Ashutosh College
and Lady Brabourne College. She completed her BA later as an external
candidate. In 1946 she married a cousin, Mirza Abdul Samad, a Communist
Party worker, and moved to dhaka.
In 1959 she did her MA in journalism from Calcutta University, securing
a first class first.
Laila Samad worked as
a journalist in the weekly begum
(1950), daily Sangbad (1951-1954), weekly Chitrali,
Purbadesh and Dainik Bangla. She edited the monthly
Ananya (1954-1958) and fortnightly Bichitra (1970).
Laila Samad's main writings include Duhsvapner
Andhakare (short stories, 1975), Kuyashar Nadi (short
stories, 1965), Aranye Naksatrer Alo (short stories, 1975),
Sola Desher Sola Kahini (juvenile literature, 1979), Karcha
'71 (diaries, 1975), Juktarastrer Din (travelogue, 1985),
Bichitra (drama, 1960). |
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Laila Samad |
Few Muslim women took part in stage dramas in the fifties,
but in 1951 Laila Samad acted in Jabanbandi, organised by the cultural
council of Dhaka University. She also took part in Chhenratar (1953)
and Kafer (1954). She produced and directed Buda Saliker Ghade
Roun, Red Lantern O White Haired Girl and Ma. She also
acted in radio plays. She was one of the founders of the Charoni drama
group and the Dhaka Cine Club.
Laila Samad was awarded the Bangla Academy Award (1982),
Nurunnesa Khatun Vidyavinodini Gold Medal, Lekhika Sangha Award (1977),
Sufi Motahar Hossain Gold Medal (1979) and Hasan Hafizur Rahman Gold Medal.
Laila Samad died on 10 August 1989 in Dhaka. In her honour,
the Dhaka Ladies Club has instituted the Laila Samad Award. [Anupam Hayat]
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