Zia Hyder remembered in Pabna

The third death anniversary of noted dramatist Professor Zia Hyder, was observed on September 2. Family members and cultural activists laid floral wreaths on his grave at Arifpur as a mark of respect.
A milad mehfil was held at Hyder's ancestral village Doharpara on Friday afternoon. Hundreds of people including cultural activists and other noted personalities of Pabna participated in the milad mehfil and shared their memories of Hyder.
“Professor Zia Hyder, was one of the leading theatre organisers of Bangladesh. He revolutionised the theatre movement of Bangladesh in the '80s. His contribution transformed and modernised theatre,” asserted Mostafizur Rahman Russel, theatre artiste and secretary of Pabna Drama Circle.
“Professor Hyder's death is a great loss to our theatre,” said Asraf Hossain Robi, a theatre artist and secretary of Shammilito Shangshkritik Oikko Parishad, Pabna.
“Bangla theatre, especially television plays, gained momentum through his brilliant concept of modern drama,” said Ashraf. He called on the residents of Hyder's ancestral village to keep alive his memories.
Hyder passed away on September 2, 2008.
Founder President of theatre troupe, Nagorik Natyasampradaya, Hyder made a remarkable contribution to the neo-theatre movement in Bangladesh shortly after the country's independence. Nagorik Natyasampradaya was formed under his initiative in 1968. He was the troupe's president until September 1982.
Hyder is also renowned for his books on theatre such as “Theatre-er Katha” (a series on the history of world theatre), “Stanislavski-er Abhinoy-tatwa” and “Natyakalaye Bibhinya Ism O Epic Theatre”. Most books are used as references at the theatre departments of the public universities in Bangladesh as well as Rabindra Bharati University in India. Moreover, Professor Hyder worked tirelessly to introduce theatre as an academic subject at the university level in Bangladesh.
Professor Zia Hyder was the founder professor of the Department of Drama in Chittagong University till his death. He also taught in other universities as a part-time teacher.