Ekushey Padak winning poet Al Mujahidi passes away

Ekushey Padak winning poet Al Mujahidi breathes his last around 2pm on Friday, while undergoing treatment for heart and kidney complications at a private hospital in the capital.

He was 83 years old. He will be buried at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur on Saturday, according to family sources.

Al Mujahidi is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter and their children.

Earlier, cultural personality Saifullah Mansur confirmed the poet’s death on his personal Facebook profile.

He was suffering from old-age complications as well as heart and kidney disorders for a couple of years. In July last year, he was diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease Chikunguniya, which left him bed-ridden.

On 15 June, he was admitted to the United Hospital and put on life support. On Friday, he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.

Al Mujahidi was born in June 1943 in Tangail. He served as the literature editor at the Bangla daily “Dainik Ittefaq” for three decades. During his university days, he was active in student politics.

He has published over 50 books, including 20 poetry collections.