A day-long seminar exploring the life and literary legacy of the late poet Omar Ali was held at Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) on Saturday (June 20).
Jointly organized by the PUST Bangla Department and the Bangla Academy, the event began at 10:30 am in the university’s Gallery-2. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abul Hasnat Moha. Shamim attended as the chief guest.
Born in 1939 in Pabna’s Char Shibrampur and passing away in 2015, Omar Ali is celebrated in Bengali literature for his profound depictions of romantic love, beauty, and rural life.
During the inaugural session, Pabna Press Club President Akhtaruzzaman Akhtar and Bangla Academy official Moniruzzaman Rohan delivered the welcome addresses.
Addressing the audience, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Shamim highlighted the poet's unique position in literature. “There are some poets in the history of Bengali literature who, despite avoiding the limelight, created a unique literary world. Poet Omar Ali is one of those rare talents,” he said. “He was a poet of the soil. The nature of Bengal, rural life, human struggles, and love are the core themes of his poetry.”
Dr. Shamim added that Omar Ali's work represents not just Pabna, but the entirety of Bangladesh. "He reminds us that a nation's identity is most deeply preserved in its language, culture, and literature," he noted, expressing hope that Ali's literary contributions will reach future generations more widely.
Professor Dr. Mir Humayun Kabir, Chairman of the PUST Bangla Department, chaired the session. Professor Dr. M Abdul Alim of PUST presented the keynote paper.
The panel of discussants included researcher and essayist Professor Dr. Abul Hasnat Chowdhury, Jahangirnagar University Professor Dr. Khaled Hossain (main discussant), Dhaka University Professor Dr. Tariq Manzoor, National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) expert Dr. Qudrat-e-Huda, and PUST Associate Professor Dr. Md. Ashiraful Islam.
The speakers reflected on Omar Ali’s philosophy, social consciousness, and lasting contributions to education and literature. The program was moderated by PUST Bangla Department teacher Muhammad Nurunnabi.
