Zia Hyder Photo Courtesy: Zubair Hossain Shikder

The year 2008 is perhaps unfortunate for theatre enthusiasts in Bangladesh. The latest shock is the demise of renowned poet-dramatist-director-teacher Professor Zia Hyder.
Professor Hyder was suffering from Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma and died yesterday morning at City Heart Hospital. He was 74.
Students, theatre activists, cultural personalities and poets paid their last respect to Professor Hyder at Aparajeo Bangla, University of Dhaka (DU), yesterday morning. Then his body was taken to Bangla Academy where he worked during the initial stage of his career in mid 1960s.
His Namaaz-e-Janaza was held at DU Central Mosque. Professor Hyder's body was taken to Pabna to be buried at his ancestral home.
Founder President of theatre troupe, Nagorik Natyasam-pradaya, Professor Hyder has made remarkable contributions 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.
Professor 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 of these 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 determinedly to introduce theatre as an academic subject at the university level in Bangladesh.
Eminent theatre-actor-director-playwright Mamunur Rashid said, "Basically he was a poet, but because of his profound knowledge in theatre we considered him an 'information centre' on western theatre in the '60s and '70s. We used to learn about the different 'isms' related to theatre from him."
Professor Hyder went to US to study theatre under the scholarship of East West Centre. He completed his masters in Fine Arts from the University of Hawaii. While studying in Hawaii he read a paper on the development of theatre in the then East Pakistan. He was involved with the amateur theatre troupes in Hawaii. His attachment with those groups encouraged him to form a theatre troupe in Bangladesh.
Returning home he joined the then Pakistan Television (now BTV) as a senior producer and subsequently organised young people to form a theatre troupe.
Theatre personality Ataur Rahman said, "I'm shocked at his death. He took the initiative to form the theatre troupe Nagorik in 1968. I was the founder General Secretary. In the initial stage he directed two plays for Nagorik: Cross Purpose, translated by Soumitra Chattyapadhyaya from the original by Albert Camus and Bohi Pir by Syed Waliullah. Moreover, he directed Oedipus, the first production of Nagorik, which was basically a TV play."
"In mid '70s he permanently left Dhaka and joined Chittagong University, however, throughout his life he considered Nagorik as his own child. But we could not give him the due respect. He could be the lifelong honorary President of the troupe," Ataur Rahman regretfully said.
On the reason behind leaving Dhaka, Professor Hyder in an interview with The Daily Star published on November 28, 2007 said, "My interest in teaching impelled me to join Chittagong University. I was invited to join the Department of Fine Arts as an Assistant Professor in 1970. Initially drama was introduced only in Masters level as one of the branches of Fine Arts. I got more involved with teaching and I introduced theatre as an academic subject in Bangladesh."
During his stay in Chittagong, Professor Hyder directed some plays there. Many of these theatre performances directed by him received awards. For example, Elebele received the best production award from Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1978. During this period
He also translated and wrote plays.
However, the Drama branch under the Department of Fine Arts at Chittagong University was closed recently. Speaking on the issue, Professor Hyder said, "It is unfortunate that the Drama branch at Chittagong University has been closed. No regular teacher wants to stay at Chittagong University, as theatre practice in Bangladesh is Dhaka-centric. Studying theatre requires group work. Furthermore, the university is too far from Chittagong City. All these problems have forced the university to close the drama branch.
"I admit that I had a responsibility. But, unfortunately we did not get enough proficient teachers to run the drama branch."
For his contribution to theatre, Professor Hyder received several awards such as Shaheed Munier Chowdhury Award.