Bidding farewell to Rakib Hasan: The legendary ‘Tin Goyenda’ author

Today, Bangladesh bid farewell to one of its most beloved storytellers. Rakib Hasan, the mind behind "Tin Goyenda", passed away — leaving behind an irreplaceable void in the hearts of countless readers who grew up chasing clues, solving mysteries, and dreaming alongside Kishore, Musa, and Robin.

According to Masuma Maimur of Sheba Prokashoni, Hasan breathed his last during dialysis when his heart suddenly stopped. The news spread swiftly across social media and literary circles, sparking waves of grief and remembrance. For many, he wasn't just an author; he was a lifelong companion whose stories lingered from childhood into adulthood.

In the cold afternoons of our teenage winters, many of us would curl up under blankets during school holidays—or sneak a flashlight beneath the covers on a weeknight—just to read one more page of "Tin Goyenda".

At the time, it was not just a series – It was an obsession. Every teenager seemed to be reading it. We all knew the names Kishore, Musa, and Robin by heart — as if they were our own friends, our secret companions in adventure. And behind those unforgettable characters stood one man: Rakib Hasan, the storyteller who made a generation believe that mystery could live right next door.

Photo: Collected

Rakib Hasan was born on 12 December 1950, in Cumilla. Because of his father's transferable government job, he spent much of his childhood in Feni, where he completed his schooling before studying at Cumilla Victoria College. After finishing his education, he tried his hand at various jobs — the kind that demanded routine and paperwork — but his heart was never in them. Eventually, he chose to follow what truly called him: writing.

His literary journey began at Sheba Prokashoni, the publishing house that would go on to shape a new era in Bangladeshi popular fiction. At first, Hasan entered the world of books through translation, adapting world-famous classics into Bangla so local readers could access the wonder of those tales. But soon, he moved beyond translation — creating his own worlds, his own characters, and, eventually, his own legend.

Over the decades, Rakib Hasan wrote more than 400 books, giving life to series such as "Tarzan", "Detective Raju", and "Reza-Suja". Each of these works carried his signature sense of adventure and accessibility. But none became as beloved — or as defining — as "Tin Goyenda".

The "Tin Goyenda" series, first published in 1985, was inspired by Robert Arthur's "The Three Investigators", yet under Hasan's pen, it took on an entirely new life. He didn't just translate Western thrillers; he transformed them. In his hands, the American landscape turned into something distinctly Bangladeshi — infused with our humour, our fears, and our youth.

Somewhere, a teenager still flips open an old "Tin Goyenda" paperback. The ink may have faded, but the thrill remains. In that moment, Rakib Hasan lives again — through every mystery solved and every heartbeat that quickens at the turn of a page.