Humayun Ahmed's death mourned

Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal talks to journalists at the demise of his elder brother, Humayun Ahmed. The popular writer breathed his last at Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital, inset, in New York on Thursday. Photo: Courtesy

Eminent personalities and different social, political and cultural organisations yesterday expressed deep shock at the death of popular writer Humayun Ahmed.
They prayed for eternal peace of his departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Humayun Ahmed, 64, died while undergoing treatment for cancer at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, New York Thursday night.
Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus expressed deep shock at the death, reports UNB.
In a condolence message yesterday, he said, “It is with great sadness and a deep shock that I learned of the death of Humayun Ahmed.
“Humayun Ahmed has been a shining light in Bangladeshi literature for over decades. He gave our nation confidence in our creativity. His impact on Bangla literature will last forever.
“He became a rallying point for our nationhood. His death is not just a great loss to our culture and literature, but also to the entire nation.”
Yunus conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family and wished them strength and courage in a time of their loss.
Former president Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury said the nation lost one of its best sons. Dhaka University Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique termed the death an irreparable loss to Bangladesh.
Labour and Employment Minister Engineer Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Chief Whip Vice-Principal Abdus Shahid and Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker also expressed shock at the death.
Gonoforum, Workers' Party of Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Revolutionary Workers' Party of Bangladesh, Bangla Academy, Ain O Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Zia Sena, Bangabandhu Lekhak Prishad and Dr Selim Al Deen Smriti Parishad also prayed for salvation of the departed soul.