Hasan Azizul Haque no more
Renowned writer Hasan Azizul Haque passed away at his residence in Rajshahi city tonight. He was 82.
He breathed his last around 9:00pm, said Malay Kumar Bhowmick, professor of Management Department at Rajshahi University.
"His body will be taken to Rajshahi University Central Shaheed Minar premises at 12:00pm tomorrow for people to pay their last tributes to him," said Sujait Kumar Sarkar, professor of RU Bangla department.
The writer will be buried at the university's central graveyard after Zohr prayers, said the teacher.
Hasan Azizul Haque had been bedridden since he fell ill with an imbalanced electrolyte and heart disease.
After falling seriously ill, on August 21, he was airlifted to Dhaka from Rajshahi for better treatment.
Later, on September 9, he was taken to Rajshahi from Dhaka on doctor's advice, reports our Rajshahi staff correspondent.
In addition to age-related health issues, he also had diabetes.
Considered one of the most beloved short story writers of contemporary Bangla literature, Hasan Azizul Haque was born on February 2, 1939 at Jabgraam in Burdwan district of West Bengal, India.
His parents later moved to Fultala, near the city of Khulna, Bangladesh. Hasan Azizul Haque was one of the most respected and beloved professors of Rajshahi University, even after his retirement from its Department of Philosophy.
Even as a child, he felt the pull of literature, and during his school days, he penned several short stories. In 1960, while still a university student, he decided to turn his passion for writing into a fulltime career. This turned out to be a blessing for readers, as Haque's works on issues like nationalism, philosophy and criticism of Bangla literature have, over the years, formed a considerable body of canonical literature.
From childhood in a rugged West Bengal village to his migration to then East Pakistan in 1947, to his education and stint in leftist politics, his life was as full of nuance as his fiction.
Haque was well known for his experimentations with language and for introducing certain modern idioms, particularly in the genre of short stories.
In over 50 years of an illustrious literary career, he wrote short stories that have given life to an exquisite form of literary language hitherto unknown.
His fictions deals with themes such as the indescribable suffering of farmers and working class people, the dehumanising effects of the Partition and the ensuing communal violence, the deterioration of values, unfulfilled promises of the Liberation War, and the distress and resistance of working class women. His first published volume is Samudrer Swapna, Shiter Aranya (1964). Among other notable volumes are: Atmaja o Ekti Karabi Gaachh (1967), Jeeban Ghase Agun (1973), Pataale, Haspataale (1981), Ma Meyer Sansar (1997), Raarbanger Golpo (1999). The realities of the Liberation War of Bangladesh are expressed with great artistry in Namhin Gotrohin (1974). He has also written two volumes of essays, Kathakataa (1981), and Aprakasher Bhaar (1988).
His views about the creative process of writing fiction were illuminating and challenged all rules prescribed by any school of criticism, as can be seen in his autobiographies, Phire Jai Fire Ashi and Uki Diye Digonto.
Hasan Azizul Haque received almost all the major awards of the country including the Bangla Academy Award, Druhee Katha-Shahityak Abdur Rouf Choudhury Memorial Award, Adamjee Sahitya Puroshkar, Lekhok Shibir Puroshkar, Alaol Sahitya Puroshkar, Alokito Sahitya Puroshkar, Agrani Bank Puroshkar, Philips Sahitya Puroshkar. He was also awarded Ananda Puroshkar for Agunpakhi in 2008. He is also a recipient of the Ekushey Padak.
He was the second Bangabandhu Chair of the Department of History at Dhaka University.
President, PM mourn
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey Padak-conferred short story writer and novelist Hasan Azizul Huq.
In a condolence message, the president said Hasan Azizul Huq's demise is an irreparable loss for the literary arena of the country. "His contribution to the literature and culture of the country will always be remembered."
The president prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed the deepest sympathy to the bereaved family.
In a message of condolence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Hasan Azizul Huq will be remembered for his literary work and creativity.
She prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
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