Quazi Motahar Hossain

Today is the 27th death anniversary of Prof Quazi Motahar Hossain, a scientist, litterateur and chess maestro, says a press release.
He was one of the forerunners of a movement "Mukto Buddhi" which endeavored to encourage the educated but conservative Muslim society to free expression and progressive thinking.
In 1961 he was awarded with the "Sitara-E-Imtiaz" in recognition of his contribution in various fields.
Throughout his checkered career he was honoured with many awards -- Bangla Academy award, Independence Day award, Nasiruddin, Bhashani, and Sher-e-Bangla awards, the national gold medal for sports etc.
In 1925 he won the All India Chess Brilliancy award and thus came to be regarded as one of the 10 best chess players of the sub-continent. He was also the unbeaten champion of chess for 30 years (1929-1960) in the then undivided Bengal and East Pakistan.