Syed Najmuddin Hashim (1925-1999) had his early schooling at St Xavier’s Convent and St Gregory’s High  School. He completed his Intermediate from Dhaka Intermediate College and B.A. Honours in English Language and Literature from Presidency College, Calcutta (where he received the Prince Dwarkanath Memorial Medal for the best essay paper in the  examination). Journalist, diplomat, editor and broadcaster, he served the government of Pakistan and later of independent Bangladesh in various capacities. He was Minister of Information (1982-84) as well as ambassador of Bangladesh to Burma (now Myanmar), Singapore, USSR, Finland and Mongolia. Among his various publications are Bandishala Pakistan, Asleshar Rakhyoshi Belay, Shomuddyoto Daibo Durbipakey. He also translated two of Abu Zafar Obaidullah’s poems In Prayer for Rains and the Brave of Heart and selections from Shamsur Rahman In The Devotee, the Combatant: Selected Poems of Shamsur Rahman.