Fazal Shahabuddin (4 February 1936 – 9 February 2014) was a renowned Bangladeshi modern poet and journalist recognized as one of the leading literary figures of the 1960s and the decades that followed. Born in Brahmanbaria district, he was the founding editor of the once-popular weekly magazine Bichitra and contributed to other prominent publications like Sochitra Shandhani and Dainik Bangla. Shahabuddin’s poetry is characterized by spiritual consciousness, profound love, and a distinct modern style, often reflecting the turbulent sociopolitical times of Bangladesh from the Language Movement through the Liberation War and beyond.
He played a pioneering role in popularizing weekly magazines in independent Bangladesh and was a key organizer of the annual Bengali Spring Poetry Festival, which remains ongoing. Over his literary career, he published 27 books and was regarded for integrating personal creativity with national collective experiences, especially highlighting the Liberation War’s impact. Fazal Shahabuddin received the Bangla Academy Literary Award and the Ekushey Padak, the two highest national honors for literature in Bangladesh. His poetry remains influential for its lyrical beauty and deep engagement with Bangladesh’s cultural and historical realities