The birth centenary of Abul Fazal, a renowned educationist and litterateur, was celebrated in the port city on July 1.

Different organisations paid rich tributes to this illustrious personality by holding various programmes including seminar, recitation, and placing of wreathes at his portrait.

Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Chittagong chapter, organised a seminar titled 'Social thoughts of Abul Fazal' at Zila Parishad auditorium in the evening.

Prof Abul Mansur, Udichi president and son of Abul Fazal, chaired the seminar.

Prof Dr Shipra Dastider presented the keynote paper while Prof Abul Kashem of Bangla department of Chittagong University and Muhammad Idris, assistant editor of the Purbokone, were the discussants.

In her paper, Dr Shipra Dastider said Abul Fazal was a humanist who held high the religion of humanity above all religions.

She said Abul Fazal believed in the emancipation of thought and to him intellect was inert.

The speakers said Abul Fazal was a pioneer of free-thinking and an intellect who never compromised with what he believed.

His works reveal the scent of free mind, intellect and progressive trend of thinking, they added. Earlier in the morning, different organisations placed wreaths at the portrait of Abul Fazal at his residence.

The organisations included Abul Fazal Birth Centenary Udjapon Parishad, Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Sammilon Parishad, Onoma Sangskritik Gosthi, Mastarda Surya Sen Memorial Protection Sangsad, Bangladesh College University Teachers' Association, Proma, Abrittee Jote and Khelaghar.

Besides, writers, journalists, teachers, intellectuals, cultural activists and politicians including Binod Bihari Chowdhury, a veteran revolutionist, also paid homage to the memory of Abul Fazal individually.