PEN Bangladesh

Bangladesh PEN Centre proudly represent the PEN International which was founded in 1921 to promote Friendship and understanding and to unite the writers & Journalists all over the world. The history of PEN Bangladesh goes back to Pakistan period. PEN Pakistan was established in 1948. After the independence of Bangladesh, PEN Pakistan was transformed into PEN Bangladesh in 1972. The first president of PEN Pakistan was the renowned scholar, writer and linguist Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah, and the first General Secretary was the distinguished writer and poet Prof Syed Ali Ahsan.

In Bangladesh period Syed Ali Ahsan became the first president of PEN Bangladesh. After that eminent writer Ms. Farida Hossain became the president of PEN Bangladesh till the year 2017. At present PEN Bangladesh is headed by internationally acclaimed writer and educationist Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam.

PEN Bangladesh, deeply engaged in exchanging cultural activities and literary works amongst their members spread over 140 Countries of the world. PEN Bangladesh regularly participate in the International PEN congress, seminar and literary meetings organized by PEN International where. This gives the Bangladeshi writers an opportunity to be part of free flow of the international literature.
PEN Bangladesh Centre regularly observe special program on the occasions of National days, birth and death anniversary of literary personalities and organizes seminar and literary activities in different part of the country.
PEN Bangladesh centre specially organizes workshop and seminars for junior writers and encourage them to be the part of the centre. We also believe that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impart information through any media and regardless of frontiers.