Hafiz Rashid Khan (born 23 June 1961) is a notable Bangladeshi poet, author, editor, journalist, and Adibaasi (indigenous) researcher. He is recognized as a prominent postcolonialist writer known for his literary philosophy addressing neo-colonialism and his deep research on indigenous cultures, especially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh.
Early Life and Education
Khan was born in Banshkhali, Chittagong, Bangladesh. He pursued his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chittagong. His academic background and cultural roots influenced his lifelong commitment to researching tribal communities and their cultural identity.
Career
Khan began his literary career early, publishing his first poetry collection, “Jostna Kemon Phutechhe” (1982), at the age of twenty-one. Over the years, he contributed to numerous literary magazines including Renaissance, Dhaner Sheeshe Gaan, Brishti, Samujjal Sabatash, and notably founded and edited Pushpakroth from 1993. He is also a journalist at the daily newspaper Suprobhat Bangladesh in Chattogram. Throughout his career, Khan authored 25 titles, including poetry, critical essays, and research works focused on indigenous life and postcolonial issues.
Literary Works
Khan’s poetic and critical writings include collections such as Choragopta Dubopahar (1988), Lohito Mandolin (1991), Adivasi Kabya (1997), and Dinga Bhase Dakshin Samudrey (2018). His literary themes center on indigenous culture, social justice, neo-colonial critique, and cultural preservation. His works are celebrated for combining intense lyricism with socio-cultural critique.
Awards and Honors
He has received several prestigious awards, including the Chittagong City Corporation Literary Award for Bengali essays (2016), the Kolkata Little Magazine Library Award for editing Pushpakroth, and special literary honors from various cultural organizations recognizing his contributions to poetry and indigenous studies.
Personal Life
Khan married Milattunnesa Khanom in 1995, and they have two daughters. He continues to be an influential figure in contemporary Bangladeshi literature, journalism, and cultural research.
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