Bande Ali was born on January 17, 1906 in the village Radhanagar, by the river Ichhamoti in Pabna district. Poet Bande Ali had passed his childhood in this town. He passed the Entrance examination from Majumder Academy, Pabna in 1923. He studied painting at the 'Indian Art Academy' in Calcutta and got his diploma from the institution in 1930. For some time he worked as a journalist in the magazine Islam Darshan, and then taught at a Calcutta Corporation school (1930-1950). He subsequently moved to East Pakistan, where he worked at the Dhaka and Rajshahi radio stations.

"His simplicity has encouraged me. I love the unpretentious language and presentation portraying the innocence of childhood," Poet Sufia Kamal once remarked on Bande Ali in her writing.

Bande Ali's first book, Chor Jamai, was published in 1927 by Calcutta Ashutosh Library. In total Bande Ali wrote 84 books including poetry, prose, drama and lyrics mostly centring on rural life.

His popular collection of poems Maynamotir Char was published in 1931 by D.M Library, Calcutta. In Maynamotir Char Bande Ali depicted the quintessential rural life in 19th century Bengal, with unmistakable simplicity.

Barashar jal shoriya giyachhe jagiya uthechhe char

Gang-shalikera garta khurhiya bandhitechhe ghar...

These elements enrich the poem that remains one of the most endearing pieces in Bengali literature. Admiring the book, Rabindranath Tagore wrote in a letter to Bande Ali in 1932, "These are enchanting imageries, you have painted in Maynamatir Char, depicting the casual lives of people living in the Padma chars."

Among other books by Bande Ali are Anurag (1933), Padma Nadir Char (1933), Swapno Shadh (1936), Madhumatir Char (1946), Aranya Godhuli (1958), Tasher Ghar (1954) and more. Megh Kumari, Jungle-er Raja, Shishuder Bishadh Shindhu, Shonar Harin and Shiyal Pandit-er Pathshala written for children became hugely popular.

The poet spent his last days in Rajshahi. Bande Ali passed away in 1979 at his Kazihatpara residence in Rajshahi town. He was buried at the premises of his ancestral home in Radhanagar.

This year in observance of the poet's death anniversary, Pabna district administration has arranged a weeklong programme, including drawing and recitation competition for school children. A discussion and prize distribution among the competitors will be held at 'Pabna Bonomali Institute' premise this Friday (June 29).