Mohammad Iftekharul Hossain (Rony Iftekhar)
I was born in the late 1970s.
Due to my father’s service in the Air Force, I spent a lively and mischievous childhood on an airbase—specifically at the Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman Base in Jessore.
After school, my days were filled with running around fields and playgrounds with kids my age. Those moments shaped my early childhood.
During every vacation, I would go to our village home, embraced by the love of uncles and relatives. I had the chance to enjoy the serene, green beauty of rural life.
Later, as part of my father’s job transfer, we returned to Dhaka in the late 1980s. From that point onward, I grew up in the bustling city, adapting to a new environment. While I was in eighth grade, we moved to Uttara.
It was at Uttara High School’s library that a new world opened up for me—a magical world that began to shape my thoughts and mindset. Although my interest in writing started even earlier, it found direction there. My first poem was published in a school magazine edited by our English teacher, Mr. Sultan Ahmed.
After that, I began writing for wall magazines, local publications, and more. During my college years at Rajuk College, while studying in higher secondary, I completed the manuscript of my first science fiction story in both Bangla and English—“Nimattona O Ruby: Ditiyo Jochhona”. The book was later published by Adcon Publications at the Ekushey Book Fair, organized by Bangla Academy.
Many people have inspired me in my writing journey, though I choose not to name anyone specifically at the moment. After completing higher secondary education, I went to Bangalore, India for my undergraduate studies. Over those three years, shaped by various experiences, I started writing short stories and began working on a book for publication.
“Shobuj Bone Neel Jyotsna” (Blue Moonlight in the Green Forest) was published after I returned to Bangladesh. Traveling through the northern regions of the country deepened my creative curiosity, leading me to explore theater. My first play, “Shopno Gorar Pala” (The Act of Dream-Building), was staged in Uttara.
Time passed, and in 2004, I moved to Melbourne, Australia, where I currently reside. Due to a busy work life, I don’t write as much as I used to, but I still write poetry and short stories whenever time allows.