15 Facts About Zahir Raihan

Mohammad Zahirullah, known as Zahir Raihan, was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker.

Zahir Raihan is most notable for his documentary Stop Genocide, made during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Zahir Raihan was posthumously awarded Ekushey Padak in 1977 and Independence Day Award in 1992 by the government of Bangladesh.

Zahir Raihan's father, Mawlana Mohammad Habibullah, was a professor at the Calcutta Alia Madrasa and later the Dacca Alia Madrasa.

Zahir Raihan had enrolled at the former institution's Anglo-Persian Department but his studies were interrupted due to the Partition of Bengal in 1947, and so he, along with his parents, returned to his village from Calcutta.

Zahir Raihan worked as the editor of Probaho in 1956.

Zahir Raihan worked as an assistant director on the Urdu film Jago Hua Savera in 1957.

Zahir Raihan assisted Salahuddin in the film Je Nadi Marupathe.

Zahir Raihan was an active supporter of the Bengali Language Movement of 1952 and was present at the historical meeting of Amtala on 21 February 1952.

Zahir Raihan was among the first group of people who got arrested on the day.

Zahir Raihan took part in the 1969 Mass uprising in East Pakistan.

Zahir Raihan abandoned the project and made his most notable work, the documentary Stop Genocide, depicting the horrendous atrocities of the Pakistani forces.

Zahir Raihan made the documentary A State is Born during the war.

Zahir Raihan went to Calcutta during the conflict, where his film Jibon Theke Neya was shown.

Zahir Raihan's film was highly acclaimed by Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, and Tapan Sinha.