Desk Report
He is not a renowned author. His work may not be deemed material of high quality that distinguishes a best-selling writer from the average ones. But for someone who lives in a remote pasture of the country and with a humble background of a schoolteacher, a publication of 106 books under his belt is quite an achievement in itself. Not only that, Muhammad Habibur Rahman of Pirojpur’s Rajbari village has 70 more completed works waiting to be published.
The volume of 77-year-old retired school teacher’s works, 78 off which are fundamental, 20 compilations and eight related with textbooks, only speaks of his desire to thrive on a field that requires certain quality and utmost dedication. Most of his books, where he focused on past and contemporary history, life and work of key leaders, novels and books for children are being brought out by quality publishers based in Dhaka.
Habibur has been a devoted author since 1998, the year he retired as head teacher from Uttar Sutiakathi Government Primary School in Nesarabad upazila of the district. “After reading a novel by Nares Chandro Sen-Gupta, I was inspired to write when I was a high school student,” said 77-year-old Habibur, who preferred a cot instead of conventional table chair for his literary work.

Nares Chandra Sen-Gupta, a career lawyer, made substantial contributions to Bengali literature through his excellent essays, short stories, plays and novels in the early 20th century.
“In 1957, my first child playlet Chutir Diney was published from Barishal and it was reproduced by a publisher from Dhaka in 1996,” said Habibur, who started his career as a teacher after completing metric course, now SSC, in 1956.
Also a publisher of a monthly newspaper on literature named Kalantor (previous name was Nabarun), Habibur can still read and write without spectacles. But the man, who withdrew his pension money at a time after retirement to help his three sons in business, is currently going through financial hardship and living on festival and medical allowances of Tk 36,500 per year.
“The money I get from the government is not enough to support my family. Besides, I’m also not getting royalties from my published books. After publishing my books, the owners of the publications do not pay me proper honorarium,” he said, adding that “sometimes they start avoiding me after taking my manuscripts.
“If anyone helps me, I can publish my unpublished 70 books,” he said.
Habibur is revered by the locals.
“We call him pundit, scholastic,” said Golam Mostofa Badsha, a retired government employee of the village.
“Habibur’s writing is good enough to be included in the textbook,” said Sheikh Jakir Ahmed, another local who knows the author for around 40 years.
“If Habibur would live in the town, he would be famous,” said the writer’s neighbour Mojibur Rahman.