Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir
Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir is a literary and cultural organisation, established in 1970 as 'Lekhak Sangram Shibir' at the initiative of some liberal writers like ahmed sharif, Serajul Islam Choudhury, Sardar Fazlul Karim and humayun kabir. It was renamed 'Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir' in 1972. Its primary objective was to organise liberal writers in order to further cause of the progressive movement. Lekhak Shibir regularly holds discussion meetings, arranges cultural functions and publishes books. It also undertakes different programmes against autocracy and communalism.
In 1976 the organisation expanded to include dancers, painters, singers and cultural activists. Later all the cultural organisations of the country were brought into the 'Ganotantrik Sanskritik Front' (Democratic Cultural Front) under the umbrella of the Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir. In the 1980s there were about 60 branches of the organisation in different parts of the country.
The Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir awards the 'Humayun Kabir Smriti Puraskar' (Humayun Kabir Memorial Prize) in memory of Humayun Kabir, the first general secretary of the Shibir, who was murdered in 1972. Those who have so far been awarded the prize are aroj ali matubbar, Humayun Ahmed, Qaes Ahmed, akhteruzzaman elias, Hasan Azizul Huq and Shawkat Ali.
The organisation launched Sangskrtik Andolan in the 1980s and a quarterly journal Trnamul edited by Akhtaruzzaman Elias in 1992. Among Shibir's presidents at different times have been Ahmad Sharif (1970-80), Badruddin Umar (1981-86), Hasan Azizul Huq (1986-93) and Abdul Matin Khan (1993-96); among its general secretaries were Humayun Kabir (1970-72), Shahriar Kabir (1976-80), Abrar Ahmed (1981-84), Anu Muhammad (1984-93) and Monirul Islam (1993-99). Some important publications of the Shibir are Bangladesher Utpadan Paddhati (Production Systems in Bangladesh), Bangladesher Maddhyabitta (The Middle Class in Bangladesh), Bangladesher Arthanitir Sangkat (The Economic Crisis in Bangladesh), and Bangladesher Shiksa: Atit, Bartaman O Bhabisyat (Education in Bangladesh: Past, Present and Future). [Abul Kalam Manjoor Morshed]
