Writing for children

Faridur Reza Sagar received the Bangla Academy Award in 2005 for his contribution to children's literature. He is also the recipient of Agrani Bank Shishu Shahitya Award, Chander Haat Shishu Shahitya Award, Euro Shishu Shahitya Award, Bachsas Award, Cultural Reporters Award and a National Film Award.
Sagar wrote his first short story for the daily Ittefaq's Kochi Kachar Aashor page, while his first publication “Ek Boi Golpo” was published in 1974. The author says words cannot express the joys of publishing the first book.
Sagar says he started going to the Ekushey Book Fair when he was very young, accompanying his mother Rabeya Khatun -- an author herself. Although the size of the fair was much smaller back then, it offered a different kind of excitement, Sagar recalls. He adds that his mother Rabeya Khatun also won the Bangla Academy Award in 1973.
Several children's books by Sagar have been published this year at the Ekushey Book Fair, including “Jadur Kathhi”, “Posha Bhooter Golpo”, “Man of the Match”, “Pabnar Bhabna”, “Hollywood-er Hoichoi Shaheb”, “Ordhek Putul”, “Rabindranath O Shishu Bholanath”, “Fectriker Guerrilla o Onyanyo Golpo” and “Khude Bir Purush”. Two books on television by Faridur Reza Sagar were also published -- “Television Bhabna” and “Television-e Arek Jibone”. Ananya Publications meanwhile published a collection of 10 novels for adolescents by the author.
In the two decades of writing, Faridur Reza Sagar has published over 50 books. Writing is in his blood. Apart from his mother being an eminent author, his father was the editor of the first movie magazine of the country.
As a child, Sagar was involved with Chander Haat and Kendriya Kochi Kachar Mela, along with appearing in several children's programme in the early days of BTV. He also starred in the movie “President” when he was a child.
Faridur Reza Sagar bases his stories on adventure, mystery, travel, memoirs, ghosts, Liberation War and science fiction.
This year, Sagar could only go to the fair once. But he says it's a very decent arrangement, with a brilliant atmosphere for book lovers.
The author says he wishes to continue writing for the rest of his days and give children books that entertains and benefits them.
Faridur Reza Sagar, also the incumbent managing director of Channel i, believes that a lot of experience is needed to become a good writer. He traveled to many countries and penned down his experiences in several travelogues. He also wishes to continue writing similar books in the future.