Ahmed Ilias

Ahmed Ilias (25 August, 1934 - 7 July, 2023) was an Urdu poet of Bihari origin. His ancestors came from Munger in Bihar. He was born in the Taltola area of Calcutta.

Early life and Education

His mother died in childbirth, and he was raised by Muslim neighbours from East Bengal. His adoptive father worked at Kidderpore port. Ilias studied at the Calcutta Alia Madrasah (established 1781). He continued his studies till the age of 15, when the partition of India caused him to pause his education due to lack of funds. He resumed a few years later in Islamia High School in Calcutta. He fell ill before his SSC exams, and lacking the means for treatment, he moved to live with relatives in East Pakistan in 1953. He came to the provincial capital of Dacca, where he passed his school certificate exams and became a trainee surveyor for the Pakistani government. He travelled all over East Pakistan for his job. But being an urbanite at heart, he gave up this career and joined the Dhaka Press Club, where he was soon appointed secretary.

He began to take an active interest in writing, and his circle of friends included journalists, poets and writers. He too became a journalist. In 1964, communal riots drove more Indian Muslims, from Jamshedpur and Rourkela, to East Pakistan. Ilias covered their plight as a reporter. In 1971, as the Liberation War led to the creation of an independent Bangladesh, Urdu speakers such as Ilias lost their rights and their livelihoods.

Although representing a marginalized, even vilified, language, Ilias gained some renown as a writer of Urdu poetry. His work has been translated into Bengali. He also wrote a book called Biharis: The Indian Emigres in Bangladesh: An Objective Analysis (2003) which was translated into Bengali. He led the Al-Falah NGO which works with Urdu speakers who live in various camps in Bangladesh to help them integrate into mainstream society.

Family and Death

Ilias had nine children, three sons and six daughters. He died in Dhaka in 7 July 2023.