Int'l literary conference begins in Manikganj today

A three-day international literary and cultural conference will begin in Manikganj today.

Manikganj Sahitya O Sangskritik Parishad in Dhaka and Manikganj district administration are jointly organising the conference at Manikganj Government Boys' High School playground marking the 150th birth anniversary of Dr Dineshchandra Sen, a writer, educationist, researcher of Bengali folklore and Bengali literature.

Cultural functions will be held in the evening every day. Renowned singers Kiron Chandra Roy, Yasmin Mushtari, Rumana Islam, Malobika Roy, Jharna Rahman and Afroza Sultana Rubi will render songs.

 Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhit will be present at the inaugural function as the chief guest while journalist Abul Moksud as main speaker.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will be present as the chief guest on the second day.

Dr Dineshchandra Sen was born in Bagjuri village of Manikganj on November 3 in 1866. His parental house was at Suapur village under Dhamrai upazila of Dhaka. His father Iswarchandra Sen practised at Manikganj court as a lawyer.

For his contribution to literature and research, Dineshchandra Sen was awarded  the title of 'Raibahadur' by the then British Government in India in 1921. The same year, Kolkata University conferred upon him the degree of D. Litt (Doctor of Literature). In 1931, he received 'Jagattarini' gold medal. He died at Behala in Kolkata of India on November 20 in 1939.

Dr Dineshchandra Sen's s first book “Kumar Bhupendra Singha”, a narrative poem, was published from Comilla in 1890. While in Comilla, he started touring villages and collecting manuscripts of old Bengali writings.