Published : 16 Oct 2025, 12:39 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 02:36 PM
Rakib Hasan, the bestselling Bangladeshi author who filled the imagination of countless Bangladeshi teenagers in the 1990s with his “Tin Goyenda” detective series, has passed away at the age of 74.
He died on Wednesday at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhanmondi, hospital authorities have confirmed.
Dr Muhib Ullah Khandaker, coordinator of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, told bdnews24.com: “Rakib Hasan came for dialysis in the afternoon. Before the procedure could begin, he suddenly lost consciousness while waiting. Doctors tried to revive him, but he could not be saved.”
Though Tin Goyenda was inspired by Robert Arthur’s The Three Investigators series, Rakib gave it a unique Bangladeshi flair through his writing.
Since Seba Prokashoni launched the Tin Goyenda series in 1985, over 450 books have been released, more than 150 of them written by Rakib Hasan himself. Beyond detective stories, Rakib authored numerous classics and juvenile series, bringing his total oeuvre to over 500 books.
Many of his works were initially published in paperback editions under various pseudonyms, aimed at delivering affordable literature to young readers and cultivating new generations of enthusiasts.
For three decades, these editions consistently topped popularity charts, making Rakib a household name among Bangladeshi youth.
Masuma Maimur, an advisor to Seba Prokashoni, announced Rakib’s death in a Facebook post: “It is with profound sorrow that we inform readers of Tin Goyenda and Seba Prokashoni that Rakib Hasan has passed away.”
Masuma, wife of Kazi Maimur Hossain, the younger son of Seba founder Kazi Anwar Hossain, told bdnews24.com that Hasan had been chronically ill for many years.
“For the past six to seven months, he required dialysis once or twice a week. Whenever he weakened, he had to be repeatedly admitted to the ICU, which also created financial difficulties. I had previously posted on Facebook seeking help for him.”
Born on Dec 12, 1950, in Cumilla, Rakib spent his early years in Feni due to his father’s government postings. He completed his BSc at Adamjee Cantonment College.
After trying various careers, Rakib ultimately chose writing as his profession and also served as assistant editor for Seba Prokashoni’s Rohossho Potrika, or Mystery Magazine.
His first book, published in 1977 under a pseudonym, was followed by his first work under his own name: a Bengali translation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Rakib translated many seminal works by renowned authors, including Erich von Däniken, Farley Mowat, and Gerald Durrell. Bengali editions of the Arabian Nights, the Tarzan series, and Jules Verne’s novels also bear his translation.
Yet it was his Tin Goyenda series that achieved unparalleled popularity. The adventures of the three young sleuths -- Kishore, Robin, and Musa -- became companions to countless readers, igniting imagination and curiosity across generations.
After leaving Seba Prokashoni, Rakib continued writing the series under titles such as Tin Bondhu and Detective Youth: Musa and Robin. He also authored the Kishore Detective series, Khude Detective series, and, under pseudonyms, the Romharshok and Detective Raju series.
Fans took to social media to mourn the author.
Mehedi Hasan Himel wrote, “The author of Tin Goyenda, who shaped our childhood and adolescence, has left us today.”
Kazi Zebunnesa said, “A significant and meaningful part of my childhood is intertwined with Tin Goyenda. Even now, news of the series still moves me profoundly.”
Nahid Dhruba added, “Let no one else forget: our childhood owes an immense debt to Seba Prokashoni, Kazi Anwar Hossain, and Rakib Hasan.”
