After 25 Years After First Burail, Ahmad Sofa to Be Laid to Rest at the Intellectuals’ Graveyard

The grave of renowned writer and thinker Ahmad Sofa is being relocated from Mirpur General Cemetery to the Intellectuals’ Graveyard. The decision was recently taken at a meeting of the **Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

Ahmad Sofa’s nephew, Nurul Anwar, told Agamir Shomoy, “After Ahmad Sofa passed away, he was buried in a general grave. Due to the reluctance of the government at the time, despite being a freedom fighter, he was not permitted to be buried at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard.”

Explaining the reason for the relocation, Nurul Anwar said the original grave had been allotted for 99 years. “After the designated period, the grave would be dismantled. That is why we wanted his grave to be moved to the section reserved for intellectuals. The application was made so that Ahmad Sofa’s grave could be preserved permanently.”

He added that the process began during the tenure of the previous interim government and was approved after the current government took office.

Nurul Anwar said, “I hope this time the grave will become permanent. I do not think that relocating Ahmad Sofa’s grave alone means he has received his full due respect. However, future generations will be able to visit his grave. This step has been taken to preserve that memory.”

DNCC Chief Executive Muhammad Asaduzzaman told Agamir Shomoy, “The process of relocating Ahmad Sofa’s grave is underway. We are working on it. All I can say is that positive progress is being made.”

Essayist and teacher Salimullah Khan said, “Is Ahmad Sofa not an intellectual? Then why was he not buried at the Intellectuals’ Graveyard? This was an injustice, and now that injustice is coming to an end. After Ahmad Sofa’s death on July 28, 2001, it was not possible to bury him there due to non-cooperation from the administration at the time. The process began during the previous interim government, and the current government has carried it forward—for this, I thank them.”

Renowned photographer Nasir Ali Mamun expressed frustration that Ahmad Sofa has yet to receive the Independence Award. He told Agamir Shomoy, “It is unfortunate that Ahmad Sofa has still not been awarded the Independence Award. I demand that he be nominated for this honor next year.”

Thanking the state for deciding—albeit belatedly—to lay Ahmad Sofa to rest at the Intellectuals’ Graveyard, Nasir Ali Mamun said, “This is certainly good news. Ahmad Sofa was never properly evaluated by any government in the past. I believe that relocating his grave to the Intellectuals’ Graveyard is a way of honoring him. At the same time, I want to say to the government that honoring people only after death is not enough. Living intellectuals—writers, poets, literary figures, and artists—also deserve recognition and care. The government should be proactive in this regard.”