Elderly writer, who went viral, finds publishing house

The elderly writer, who had been publishing his own books and taking them to stalls at Ekushey Book Fair for the last 20 years, has finally found a publication house keen on his work.

Noticing the photo of Dr Foyzur Rahman Al-Siddique (86) at the book fair that has gone viral on social media, Nagad Managing Director Tanvir Ahmed Mishuk met him and took the initiative to publish his book from 'Bangla Prokash'.

"I have taken the writer's permission to publish his book officially on Monday night," Mishuk said in a press release yesterday.

Bangla Prokash Managing Director M Shariful Alam said the book titled "Bangalir Joy, Bangalir Berthota" [Success and failure of Bengalis] will be available from next week at their stall at the book fair.

"After reading the book, I understood that it should be presented to a wider section of book lovers," he added.

Meanwhile, retail supershop chain Shwapno has decided to sell the book at all its premium outlets, after finding out about Dr Foyzur through social media, its Head of Business Mahadi Faisal said in a press release yesterday.

Many newspapers including The Daily Star had published a news on Dr Foyzur, a former researcher and scientist of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC).  

A photo of him standing in front of a stall at the book fair went viral on social media on February 9. Later, discussion about him and his book dominated conversations among book lovers.

The picture showed him going past a book stall carrying three bags, a single book in his hand.

When talking to The Daily Star on the day, Dr Foyzur told this correspondent that 500 copies of his book was published by Poroma Publication in 2000, but the publication house has not since brought out further editions.

"After failing to find a publication house, I have been printing 150 to 200 copies every year, using a photocopy machine, and personally selling the books at the book fair," said Dr Foyzur, who is also a former director of Nuclear Science Research Institute (NSRI) under BAEC.

He said that he gave some copies of his book to the stall of Puthiniloy Publication 

"In the book, I wanted to highlight what we have achieved and what our failures are. A nation that does not know what mistakes it made cannot grow. So, it's essential to know our mistakes," he said.

Born in 1934 at Nawabganj upazila under Dhaka district, Foyzur graduated from the Department of Chemistry of Dhaka University. According to the author's page of his book, he received his PhD from Cambridge University, UK.