SIDDIQUE MAHMUDUR RAHMAN, (born: 4 September 1946, Jessore) , is an ardent researcher, prolific litterateur, a successful translator, an efficient editor and printing and publication specialist. Father, Fazlur Rahman, served in the Education and Foreign service during Pakistan period, had a good number of books on juvenile literature. Mother, Sajeda Rahman, had her Adyabharati degree from Biswabharati University and was an authoress.
Siddique had his school education from Kolkata during 1953-65, BA in 1969, but could not complete MA due to Liberation War. He had his B.Ed degree in 1978 and MA in English in 1980. He edited and published, Asian Voice, a pen-friendship magazine during 1966-1980. He worked in establishing Danbir Hazi Mohammad Mohsin High School at Murali, Jessore during 1975. He worked in different organizations in administration, printing, publishing, editing and translation during 1980-2006. He was attached to travel periodical The Bangladesh Monitor, Dhaka Calling during 2003-2006. He also worked as project coordinator of the Dhaka representative of Raffles Hospital, Singapore Tourism, SingHealth, Emirates and Qatar Airways during 2004-2006.
A Researcher
Siddique was studying on postal service, postage stamps, philately, coins and currencies of Bangladesh since 1986 and during these 27 years have published a good number of research works. He is the pioneer in this field and was the only author on these subject.
His research publications are : 1. A History of Bangladesh Philately 1971-1985, 1986; 2. Bangladesh Stamp and Postal History, 1988; 3. Bangladesh Philatelir Dui Dashak (Two Decades of Bangladesh Philately), 1991; 4. Bangladesher Dakbyabostha (Postal History of Bangladesh), 1995; 5. Bangladesher Daktikit (Postage Stamps of Bangladesh),, 1995; 6. Postage Stamps of Bangladesh (Multimedia Philatelic Software), 2002; 7. Eminent Personalities of Bangladesh (Multimedia Philatelic Software), 2003; 8. K G Mustafa and his Exceptional Designs, 2008; 9. Bangladesher Dakbyabostha (Postal History of Bangladesh, 2nd Ed.), 2009; 10. Postage Stamps of Bangladesh 1971-2008, 2009; 11. Cowri to Taka -Evolution of Coins and Currencies of Bangladesh. 2011; 12. Bangladesher Muktijoddhey Dakbyabostha O Daktikit (Postal History and Postage Stamps of Bangladesh during the Liberation War), 2012, 13. Tagore Philately, 2013.
Published Papers: 1. Postage Stamps during the Liberation War of Bangladesh (Co-author), Bangladesh Historical Studies, Vols. XV-XVI, 1991-1995, pp. 113-126; 2. Postal Service during the East India Company’s rule in Bengal, Bangladesh Historical Studies, Vol. XIX, 2002, pp. 43-69; 3. Postal Stamps, in Banglapaedia, ASB, 2003; 4. Dr. M. Ibrahim in Banglapaedia, ASB, 2003; 5. BIRDEM in Banglapaedia, ASB, 2003; 6. History of Postage Stamps of Bangladesh in Postage Stamps of Bangladesh 2002-2007, Postal Directorate, Bangladesh Post Office, January, 27-31 July, 2008, 7. Postal History of Dhaka City, 400 Years of Capital Dhaka and Beyond, Sharif Uddin Ahmed and Abdul Monin Chowdhury (edited), ASB, May, 2011, Taka in Banglapaedia, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2003; 8. Same as above – but in Bangla language version, 2012; 9. Bangladesher Muktijoddhey Dakbyabostha O Daktikit (Postal History and Postage Stamps of Bangladesh during the Liberation War), in Journl of the Historical Society of Bangladesh, 33-34 vol., 2010, 212-236.
Papers submitted in the Seminars and Conferences: 1. Postage Stamps during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, Annual Conference of Historical Society of Bangladesh, at Jahangirnagar University, 26 September, 1994; 2. Postal History of Bangladesh: A Compendium, Dept. of History, Dhaka University, June 2, 2009; 3. Postal History of Dhaka City, International Conference of History, Heritage and Urban Issues of Capital Dhaka , 17 February, 2010; 4. , Bangladesher Muktijoddhey Dakbyabostha O Daktikit (Postal History and Postage Stamps of Bangladesh during the Liberation War), Conference of Bangladesh Historical Society, held at Bogra, March 28, 2011; 5. Kagoji Mudrar Purba-sanjukti O Kromik: Itihasher ekti Nobotoro Odhyae (Prefix and Numbering System on Bangladesh Paper Currency: A Newer Chapter of History), Conference of Bangladesh Historical Society, held at Khulna, November 28, 2012 .
A Translator
Siddique was an efficient and translator with deep insight and he has become dexterous in translating poems. His translated works are as follows:
1. Paakhi (Daphne du Maurier’s ‘The Birds’), 1991; 2. Bhalo Meye (Oscar Wilde’s Lady Winderemere’s Fan), 2000; 3. Swarga Morichika (Daphne du Maurier’s Monte Verita), 2001; 4. Poems of Bangladesh, 2003, 5. Shahabuddin Nagari’s Poems, 2004; 6. Selected Poems, 2006, 6. Poems of Bimal Guha, 2008; 7. Fifty Poems of Rabindra Gope, 2009; 8. Midnight Locomotives and Other Poems, 2010, 9. Tribute to Bangabandhu, 2010, 10. Mogol Sigha Babar (Pirimkul Kadirov’s The Starry Nights), 2011, 11. Fifty Poems of Murshida Ahmed, 2013, 12. Haspataler Sonkromon Niontron O Prashongik Bishoy, 2013, Selected Poens of Aslam Sany, 2014, Selected Poens of Maleka Ferdous,2014 and Short Stories of Akhtarunnahar Alo, 2014.
A Litterateur
Siddique also have a good number of literary works in his credit: 1. Nai Kire Sukh (Short Stories), 1997, 2. Aar Ektu Somoy (Poems), 2004, 3. Lokeshasthyo Limited (Novel), 1998, 4. Sey Amar Gopon Kotha (Novel), 2008; 5. Mithey Golpo (Juvenile stories), 2008; 6. Sayem Mahmuder Nishfal Dwoiroth (Novel), 2010, 7. Ei Din Shey Din (Novel), 2010, 7. Sahitya Songskriti Sikkha (Esseys), 2012.
An Editor
Siddique edited a good number of books, these are Fazlur Rahman’s Prohelika 1975, Fazlur Rahman’s Byang Chyapta, 2003, Selected Poems, 2006, Anthology of Poems of South Asian Countries, 2010; Sukumar Ray’s Collection, 2012; O. Ishtiaque Ahmed Khan’s One Taka Inland Envelope: A Comprehensive Study, 2013.
Awards
A number of books on postal service, postage stamps and philately were awarded from different international philatelic exhibitions, these are
1. Vermeil Medal award for One Taka Inland Envelope from StampShow 2013, organised by APS & FIP, 2. Silver Medal award for Rabindra Philately, from StampShow 2013, organised by APS & FIP, 3. Silver medal award for Postage Stamps of Bangladesh 1971-2008 from American Philatelic Society, USA, in 2010, 4. Silver Bronze award for Artist K G Mustafa and his Exceptional Designs from 22nd Asian International Stamps Exhibition held at Jakarta, Indonesia, under the patronage of FIAP, in 2008, 5. Silver Bronze medal award for Bangladesh Stamps and Postal History, from CSP Museum, in 1990, Bronze medal award for Bangladesh Stamps and Postal History from American Philatelic Society, USA, in 1990 and Silver Bronze medal award for Bangladesh Stamps and Postal History from Australian Philatelic Federation in 1993. Silver Bronze medal award for Postage Stamps of Bangladesh 1971-2008 philatelic software from Australian Philatelic Explorer, in 2005.
Besides his philatelic collections were awarded from Bangladesh National Philatelic Exhibitions, Banglapex ’84, Banglapex ’92 and Khulnapex ’92.
Memberships
1. Chief Executive, www.trulybangladesh.com-First and only literary website, both in Bangla and English, 2. President and Chief Researcher, Bangladesh Institute of Philatelic Studies (BIPS), 3. Life Member, Bangla Academy, 4. Life Member, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 5. Life Member,, Bangladesh Historical Society, 6. Life Member, Edition and Publication Association of Bangladesh (EPAB), 7. Life Member, Bangladesh National Philatelic Association, 8. Hon’ble Advisor, Philatelists Association of Bangladesh, 9. Corporate Member, Bangladesh Philatelic Federation.
For Contact: Siddique Mahmudur Rahman, M.A.,B.Ed., 1013 East Shewrapara, Beside Jamtala Mosque, Mirpur, Dhaka 12167, Bangladesh. Cell: +88-01716 442254. E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.trulybangladesh.com.