The president, prime minister, and opposition leader last night expressed their deep shock at the death of Indian poet and novelist Sunil Gangopadhyay, one of the doyens of Bangla literature.
The author, who had been widely celebrated both in West Bengal and Bangladesh, died following a cardiac arrest at his south Kolkata residence early Tuesday.
In a condolence message, President Zillur Rahman said Bangla literature lost a distinguished writer with the death of Sunil Gangopadhyay. "Bangla-speaking people will ever remember him for his immense contributions to various branches of literature."
“His death is a permanent loss to Bangla literature," said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a separate message. "I believe he'll ever be remembered by the readers through his innumerable stories, poems, plays and novels including 'Sei Somoy', 'Purbo-Paschim', 'Prothom Alo,' 'Nikhilesh,' and 'Neera' poetry series."
Recalling the contributions of Sunil, a pen-friend of Bangladesh's Liberation War, Hasina said his poems and articles had inspired the freedom fighters tremendously.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Ain o Salish Kendra and Jatiya Party also expressed shock.