<i>Humayun's birthplace and some of his dreams</i>

Top-Bottom: Humayun Ahmed among students of Shaheed Smriti Bidyapith, established in memory of his Liberation War martyr father Fayzur Rahman Ahmed, at Kutubpur village in Kendua upazila under Netrakona district. The immensely popular writer used to manage time out of his busy schedule to visit the school at his native village. Black flag flies atop Shaheed Smriti Bidyapith at Kutubpur village, the birthplace of Humayun Ahmed yesterday. Photo: Star File Photo

A pall of gloom descended Humayun Ahmed's birthplace Kutubpur village in Kendua upazila under the district, as the news of the legendary writer's death reached the area.
During a visit to Kutubpur village on Friday noon, this correspondent talked to Humayun Ahmed's relatives and locals.
He established a high school named Shaheed Smriti Bidyapith at Kutubpur in memory of his father Fayzur Rahman Ahmed, who was martyred in the hand of the Pakistan occupation army during the Liberation War in 1971. Fayzur Rahman was a police officer at the time.
Humayun also established a library named Shaheed Fayzur Rahman Smriti Pathagar at Kutubpur.
"Humayun Ahmed dreamed of developing the school and increase its accommodation facilities for a large number of students of Kutubpur village and adjoining areas. He also wished to establish several welfare organisations including a hospital at the village," said Mohammad Asaduzzaman, headmaster of the school.
But much of his dream remained unfulfilled due to his untimely demise, he said.
"I urge Humayun's brothers to burry him at their family graveyard at Kutubpur," said Altafur Rahman, uncle of the deceased writer, with tears rolling down his eyes.
Authorities of Shaheed Smriti Bidyapith hoisted a black flag atop the school building and announced a three-day programme to mourn the death of the popular writer.
A mourning procession was brought out under the banner of Netrakona Samajik O Sangskritik Sangathon in Netrakona town on Friday evening.
An immensely popular novelist and dramatist, Humayun Ahmed also gained fame as a filmmaker, and took to painting during later years of his life.
Humayun Ahmed was born at Kutubpur village on November 13 in 1948 and died while undergoing treatment for cancer at a hospital in New York at 11:20pm [Bangladesh time] on Thursday.