Renowned filmmaker, writer and freedom fighter Zahir Raihan’s 51st death anniversary will be observed today. Different socio-cultural organisations have arranged various programmes to mark the day.    

Zahir Raihan, who made immense contribution towards shaping Bangla films in the 1960s, was born on August 19 in 1935 at Majupur in Feni.    

The effect of the Language Movement was so strong on him that he used it as the premise of his landmark film ‘Jibon Theke Neya’. He also took part in the 1969 Mass uprising in East Pakistan. In 1971 he joined in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. During the liberation war Raihan went to Kolkata, where his film ‘Jibon Theke Neya’ was screened. His film was highly acclaimed by Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen and Tapan Sinha.

Apart from being a filmmaker, he was also an acclaimed writer. His first collection of short stories titled ‘Suryagrahan’ was published in 1955.

He disappeared on January 30, 1972 while trying to find his brother, Shahidullah Kaiser, who was last seen in December 1971.