Ekushey Padak-winning poet Al Mujahidi has died at the age of 86 following a prolonged illness.
He passed away on Thursday at United Hospital in Gulshan, according to fellow poet Abdul Hye Shikdar.
His son Shabib Al Mujahidi said the poet was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after suffering two cardiac arrests.
Family members said Al Mujahidi had been suffering from heart disease, stroke and kidney-related complications for the past year and had been admitted to hospital several times.”
Born on 1 January, 1943, Al Mujahidi was a poet, researcher, editor and literary figure widely regarded as one of the prominent voices of Bangla poetry in the 1960s.
His writings reflected themes of land, people, history, culture and identity of Bangladesh, while nature, love, national consciousness and self-reflection remained central to his poetry.
Over his long literary career, he authored poetry, fiction, novels, plays and essays, publishing more than 50 books.
He also served for many years as the literary editor of The Daily Ittefaq, where he played a key role in mentoring emerging writers in Bangladesh’s literary scene.
The government awarded him the Ekushey Padak in 2003 in recognition of his contribution to Bangla language and literature.
