He was a man of many hats: a writer, a linguist, a teacher, a researcher, and a Language Movement veteran.

As a champion of secularism and one of the most distinguished researchers on National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, he enriched the country's education and culture.

He is National Professor Rafiqul Islam, the recipient of both Swadhinata Padak and Ekushey Padak, the country's highest civilian honours, for his contribution to education.

The 87-year-old breathed his last at the capital's Evercare Hospital yesterday. He was on life support since Thursday, said Rafiqul's son Borshon Islam.

He was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) with abdominal pain on October 7. Doctors had confirmed that water had accumulated in his lungs, and it was extracted, added Borshon.

The first namaz-e-janaza of the eminent educationist was held at Uttara Sector-10 mosque last night. His body was kept at the hospital mortuary.

The mortal remains of the national professor will be taken to the Bangla Academy about 1:00pm today and Shaheed Minar about 2:00pm for paying last respects.

He will be buried at Azimpur graveyard in his father's grave.

Rafiqul took photographs of the Language Movement when it reached the pinnacle on February 21, 1952 and portrayed the history of the movement and Liberation War in his writings, paving a way for the next generation to know about them.

He also actively took part in the Liberation War.

"My father was held captive by the Pakistan occupation army for two months during the Liberation War," Borshon Islam told The Daily Star.

A former vice chancellor of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Rafiqul had been the Bangla Academy president until death. He was made national professor in 2018.

Rafiqul, a teacher of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was the chairman of the National Implementation Committee for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 100th Anniversary Celebration.

A pall of gloom descended on the academic arena and well-wishers of the national professor soon after the news of his death spread.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, ministers, distinguished personalities, top leaders of different political and socio-cultural organisations, Bangla Academy as well as educational institutions, including Dhaka University and ULAB, expressed deep shock at the demise of the cultural personality.

Born on January 1, 1934 in Chandpur, Rafiqul completed graduation and post-graduation from Dhaka University. He earned MA in Linguistics at Cornel University, USA.

He taught Bengali and linguistics at Dhaka University from 1957-1958 and 1961-2004. He had his PhD degree on the thesis on "Life and Poetry of Kazi Nazrul Islam".

He had been the director general of Bangla Academy from April-December 2001.

Rafiqul, also the former chairman of the Nazrul Institute Trustee Board, has authored more than 30 books on the Language Movement, Liberation War, history of Dhaka University, language, literature, culture of Bangladesh and other topics.

He was the chief editor of Nazrul Rachanbali (Nazrul Omnibus) published by Kabi Nazrul Institute and Nazrul birth centenary edition of Nazrul Rachanabali published by Bangla Academy. He was also the co-editor of the academy's Pramita Bangla Bhashar Byakaran.

Some of Rafiqul's notable books include Nazrul Nirdeshika, Bhashtottya, An Introduction to Colloquial Bengali, Bangladesher Swadhinota Sangram, Bhasha Andolan O Shahid Minar, Dhakar Kotha, Bhasha Andolan o Muktijhuddher Shahitya, Swadhinotar Sangrame Dhaka Biswabidyalaya, Dhaka Biswabidyalayar Ashi Bosor and others.

He also edited several books -- Adhunik Kobita, Kazi Nazrul Islam: A New Anthology, Gitee Sangkalan: Kazi Nazrul Islam, Collections of Abul Mansur Ahmad, Hajar Bochorer Bangla Shahitya and A Documentation of the Bengali Language and Literature of the last millennium by ULAB.

For his immense contribution to education and literature, Rafiqul received several prestigious awards including, Nazrul Academy Award, Churulia, West Bengal (1987), Nazrul Institute Award (1987), Bangla Academy Award (1994), Ekushey Padak (2001), Shwadhinota Purushkar (2012), Bangla Academy Shommanona (2017).Rafiqul is one of the recipients of the first-ever International Mother Language Award, introduced by International Mother Language Institute. He was given the award for his contribution to preservation and promotion of mother language nationally and internationally.