Tributes pour in for poet Belal Chaudhuri

Last respects and farewell were paid to renowned poet, language movement veteran and journalist Belal Chaudhuri at Central Shaheed Minar today.

His body was taken to Central Shaheed Minar around 11:00am and kept there for an hour where hundreds of well-wishers, followers and people from all walks of life paid tributes at his cadaver.

Last reported, his body was being taken to Dhaka University Central Mosque, where is first namaz-e-janaza will be held after Johr prayers.

After the prayers, the Bengali bard will be taken to his ancestral village in Feni's Sharsdi, where he would be laid to eternal rest following a second namaz-e-janaza.

The seasoned poet who had embellished Bengali literature especially poetry through his unparallel hue of imagination and imagery passed away yesterday noon at a city hospital. He was 79.

He had been suffering from multiple ailments and was put on life support at a hospital in the capital on Friday.

The departure of such a prodigious figure will leave a vacuum that only destiny knows when to be fulfilled.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor mourned the distinguished poet.

Chaudhuri was a recipient of Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh. In addition, for his contributions to Bangla language and literature, he received many other awards including “Bangla Academy Puroshkar”, “Alakta Sahitya Puroshkar and Gold Medal”, “Nihar Ranjan Puroshkar”, “Kabitalap Puroshkar” and Mazharul Islam Poetry Award.