Children’s author Ekhlas Uddin Ahmed passes away
Noted author of children’s literature Ekhlas Uddin Ahmed passed away at a hospital in Dhaka this afternoon. He was 74.
He was admitted to the Square Hospital, one and a half month ago following a brain haemorrhage. He was shifted to the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) on December 12 as his condition deteriorated, informed his family and the hospital sources.
The writer was mostly unconscious at the ICU over the last one week. He suddenly got back to his senses on Monday and started talking on various aspects, said media personality Ali Imam, also a nephew-in-law of the deceased.
The author will be buried to eternal rest at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur today following two namaz-e-janazas -- at the Bangla Academy premise and a playground near his residence in Mohammadpur, he added.
A lifelong bachelor, Ekhlas left behind a host of relatives and well wishers.
Born on December 15, 1940 in West Bengal of India, Ekhlas worked as a feature editor at the Bangla daily Janakantha for several years.
He was the founding editor of popular children’s magazine Tapur Tupur that launched in 1965. He worked with the magazine, which has a significant contribution to the country’s children’s literature, for several years.
In the same year, his first book Ek Je Chhilo Nengti was published.
He wrote over 50 books including those of rhymes, prose and novels, almost all of which were for children.
Among his well-known writings, “Chharay Chharay Chhanda” bagged an international prize for best publication at Leipzig Book Fair in Germany in 1967.
He created “Tuntu”, a fictional adolescent character, which received popularity among children and teens. Ekhlas was a key person behind founding publications house Boi Ghar in Chittagong.
Among notable awards, he received Ekushey Padak in 2000 and Bangla Academy Award in 1971.
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