Ekushey Padak-winning poet, researcher, editor and former literary editor of Daily Ittefaq, immaculate litterateur Al Mujahidi, passed away while undergoing treatment at United Hospital in the capital. He was 83.
According to family members and the National Cultural Association, the veteran poet died on Friday after suffering multiple cardiac arrests. He had been battling several health complications, including blood infection, kidney failure and heart disease.
His son, Shabib Al Mujahidi, said his father was admitted to hospital last Wednesday in critical condition. During treatment, he suffered several cardiac arrests. Doctors administered shock therapy after another cardiac arrest on Friday afternoon, but could not save him.
His daughter, Mariama Jabin Al Mujahidi, said he had been suffering from various illnesses for nearly two years. He underwent heart procedures twice and later developed kidney complications. He was also infected with chikungunya in July last year.
She said he was admitted to United Hospital on April 23 due to heart and kidney problems and returned to his residence in Uttara on May 26 after his condition improved. However, he fell ill again and was admitted to Crescent Hospital in Uttara on June 4. As his condition deteriorated further, he was taken back to United Hospital on June 15 and placed on life support the following day.
Dr. Monowarul Islam, Secretary of the National Cultural Association, said the poet's first Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at the National Press Club at 12 noon on Saturday. A second Janaza prayer will be held after Zuhr at the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram before his burial at the Mirpur Shaheed Buddhijibi Graveyard.
Born on January 1, 1943, in Naruchi village of Gopalpur upazila in Tangail district, Al Mujahidi was regarded as one of the most important voices of Bengali poetry in the 1960s. His father, Abdul Halim Jamali, was a playwright and organizer, while his mother, Sakhina Khan, was a lyricist and social activist.
After completing his higher secondary education at Kartia Sa'dat College, he earned a bachelor's degree from Jagannath College. He later obtained master's degrees in Sociology and in Bengali Language and Literature from Dhaka University.
Al Mujahidi was known for creating a unique blend of modern poetry and rural folk traditions. Themes of soil, nature, love, national consciousness and self-reflection were central to his literary works.
During his long literary career, he made significant contributions to poetry, novels, short stories, plays, essays and translated literature. More than 50 books were published under his name.
His notable poetry collections include Hemlocker Peyala, Dhrupad o Terrakota, Mrttika Atimrttika, Samudra Mekhla, Kaler Bandishe, Kaando Hiroshima Kaando Nagasaki, Prachya Prithi and Sandhyar Brishti.
