Tajuddin Ahmad'er Chithi (Collection of Letters of Tajuddin Ahmad)

On 23 July 2014 - marking the occasion of the 89th birthday of Tajuddin Ahmad - a book titled "Tajuddin Ahmader Chithi" (Letters of Tajuddin Ahmad) was published by Pratibhas. The book is a collection of 118 letters written to and by Tajuddin Ahmad between 1953 – 1974. Since this period covers some the most important historical events of Bangladesh - such as Bhasha Andolon, Six Point Movement, Liberation War - the book is an indispensable historical record and valuable resource for the country.

As a political prisoner Tajuddin Ahmad wrote many letters from prison to his wife Zohra and to his eldest daughter Reepi, who had just began to read and write. Sadly, all these letters were either lost or destroyed during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Only few letters which he wrote to his relatives and acquaintances have survived.

Of the 118 letters published in the book, 11 cover the preparation phase of the struggle for freedom before 1971, 89 cover the nine-month war, and 18 the post-war period.

"Tajuddin Ahmader Chithi" was launched at a ceremony held at Planning and Development Academy in the capital's Nilkhet and attended by eminent personalities. Former Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, a close colleague of Tajuddin Ahmad who also worked under his leadership during 1971, was the chief guest of the ceremony. Dhaka University professor emeritus Dr. Anisuzzaman presided over the ceremony.

The book is edited by Tajuddin's daughter and lawmaker Simeen Hussain Rimi.

Reading out a couple of letters, Prof. M. M. Akash [an eminent economist] said the letters not only gave a picture of the time they were written but also showed how Tajuddin, a person who preferred to remain in the backstage, evaluated himself.

The Daily Star newspaper (Bangladesh)

After 50 or 100 years, there would be no witness of the Liberation War, but this book like other documents would remain, to enrich our future generation about the history of our country.

Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, popular writer

Tajuddin Ahmad Sritti Rokkha Committee (Tajuddin Ahmad Memorial Trust Fund)

In 2010 Sharmin Ahmad met with Professor Dalem Chandra Barman and the then Pro-Vice Chancellor Harun-or-Rashid of Dhaka University (DU) in a conference in Jordan. She discovered DU had a Peace and Conflict Studies department. It was then Sharmin had the idea of having a Tajuddin Ahmad Trust Fund. She suggested such a fund would be an asset for the already eminent university and also help spread awareness on the life and works of Tajuddin Ahmad and history, culture, economy and politics of Bangladesh.

Sharmin's proposal gained support from various seniors and officials of DU including Treasurer Professor Dr. Kamal Uddin, and the then Vice Chancellor Arefin Siddique.

Finally in 2011 the 'Tajuddin Ahmad Memorial Trust Fund' was founded with a view of organising/conducting public lectures by learned scholars from home and abroad and providing financial support to students in higher education. The trust also gives awards to persons who make outstanding contributions to research and distributes gold medals (Tajuddin Ahmad Peace Gold Medal) to winners of a scholarship and essay competition.

The trust is managed by a board of trustees chaired by a nominee of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh's Council. They keep in regular touch with Sharmin and update her on progress.

Shahid Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College, Gazipur

Coming soon

"Tajuddin Ahmad: Aloker Anantadhara" book

In April 2007 Simeen Hussain Rimi edited a book titled "Tajuddin Ahmad: Aloker Anantadhara", a collection of reminiscences by eminent personalities who knew the former first Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Among these were Ataur Rahman Khan, Arham Siddique, Amir Ul Islam, Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, Abu Osman Chowdhury, Ali Tareque, Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, AK Khandakar, Kafil Uddin Mahmud, KF Rustamjee, Khan Sarwar Murshed, Golok Majumdar, Bahauddin Chowdhury, Nurul Islam, Matiur Rahman, Nurul Kader, M Wahiduzzaman, Mir Shawkat Ali, Rafiquddin Bhuiyan and Shamsur Rahman Khan.

The publication ceremony was held at Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium at the National Museum in the capital Dhaka.