Ashique Mustafa (Bengali: আশিক মুস্তাফা; born 1986) is a Bangladeshi writer and journalist known primarily for his work in children's literature.Aditya Rahman. "বইমেলায় তরুণ লেখক." Amar Desh, 7 February 2013, p. 8. Archived copy available at Internet Archive.Sheikh Iraj. "Ashique Mustafa — Writer." New Age, Y&I, 14 July 2016, p. 18. Archived copy available at Internet Archive. He began writing rhymes and short stories for newspapers in 2007, and his first book, Eksho Foring Ekta Ami, was published in 2009.Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan. "Creating a Magical Childhood." The Daily Star, 9 April 2015. He has received the Agrani Bank Shishu Academy Children's Literature Award, Meena Media Award and the Habibur Rahman Literary Award, and had published around 40 books by 2023."‘ফিজিক্যাল বইমেলার সঙ্গে চাই ডিজিটাল বইমেলা’." bdnews24.com, 31 January 2023.
Early life and education
Ashique was born in 1986 in Majidpur village, Senbagh Upazila, Noakhali District. He moved to Dhaka in 2006 to pursue his studies and began writing rhymes and short stories for newspapers in 2007. He later studied at the University of Dhaka and, in 2015, presented a paper on children's literature at the 4th International Congress of Bengali Studies at the University of Tokyo.Sheikh Iraj. "Ashique Mustafa Writer." The Independent, 2016.
Writing career
Ashique's first book, Eksho Foring Ekta Ami, a collection of children's rhymes, was published in 2009 by Oitijjhya.Sheikh Iraj. "Promising Young Writers." The Independent, 26 November 2015. His work includes children's stories, rhymes, translations, travel writing and comics.
He has worked as an editor of the children's page Ghashforing of the Bengali daily Samakal and contributed to the Shishu Bishyokosh (Children's Encyclopaedia) published by the Bangladesh Shishu Academy. By 2015, he had published 17 books for young readers. By 2023, the number had grown to around 40.
In 2020, eight of his books were published at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, including Tupuner Bondhura, Tarar Buddhi, Pakhirder Ishkul Bus and 1971 Bichchhu Bahini."মেলায় আশিক মুস্তাফার ৮ বই." Jago News24, 14 February 2020.
Awards and recognition
Ashique has received several awards for his work in children's literature and media. He received the Shishu Sahitya Award for his translation of Red American folklore.
In 2014, he received the Meena Media Award for his story Shopno Urano Lokta and the Habibur Rahman Literary Award for his short story Chotto Ekta Meye.""কবি হাবীবুর রহমান সাহিত্য পুরস্কার বিতরণ." Prothom Alo.
For Bengali year 1422 (2015–16), Ashique received the Agrani Bank Shishu Academy Children's Literature Award in the drama category.সমকাল প্রতিবেদক. "" অগ্রণী ব্যাংক-শিশু একাডেমি পুরস্কার পেলেন সমকালের ইমতিয়ার শামীম ও আশিক মুস্তাফা." Samakal, 18 February 2018."অগ্রণী ব্যাংক-শিশুসাহিত্য পুরস্কার পেলেন ৩৯." Prothom Alo.
In 2018, he received first prize in the Print/Online Media, Creative (Over 18) category of the Meena Media Award.UNICEF Bangladesh. Meena Media Award Winners 2018. UNICEF Bangladesh, 2018."50 media professionals honoured with Meena Media Award 2018." The Daily Star, 29 November 2018.
In 2025, he received the Chhotoder Shomoy Children's Literature Award for his book Bhat Khaowanor Golpo."ছোটদের সময় শিশুসাহিত্য উৎসবে শিশুবান্ধব সমাজ বিনির্মাণের আহ্বান." NTV Online, 2025.
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