BANGLA ACADEMY:  Folks from all walks of life paid their last respects to Poet Al Mahmud at Bangla Academy premises.

His body was brought to Nazrul Mancha of Bangla Academy at 11:48 am on Saturday (February 16).

Jalal Ahmed, a member secretary of the management committee of Bangla Academy Book Fair, was present there. 

Family of the deceased poet sought permission from vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman to place his body at the Central Shaheed Minar for people to pay tribute.

However, DU Proctor Dr. AKM Golam Rabbani said, “The VC has not given his decision yet.”

Poet Al Mahmud died at the Ibn Sina Hospital in the capital on Friday (February 15).

He breathed his last at 11:05 pm.  He was 82

Prior to his death, the poet was put on life support at 10:15 pm, Al Mahmud’s close friend and assistant Abid Azim confirmed the matter to Banglanews.

He had been suffering from pneumonia and various old-age complications.

Al Mahmud was born at Morail village of Brahmanbaria on July 11, 1936. He completed primary and secondary education at his village.

He started his career as a journalist. He rose to fame through his works, for example Lok Lokantor (1963), Kaler Kalash (1966), Sonali Kabin (1966), Mayabi Porda Dule Otho (1969).

Al Mahmud is rated among the greatest Bengali poets in the 20th century. He was a poet, novelist, and short-story writer.

He was bestowed with numerous awards: Bangla Academy Literary Award, Ekushey Padak and Joy Bangla Award, Jibonananda Memorial Award, to name but a few, for his vast contribution to Bangla literature.

BDST: 1420 HRS, FEB 16, 2019

AH/SMS