Poet Fazal Shahabuddin passes away

Eminent poet and journalist Fazal Shahabuddin passed away at his residence in the capital's Madhya Basabo yesterday. He was 78.
Family members said the poet, who had been suffering from old-age complications over the last few months, breathed his last around 10:30am.

He was buried at the Banani graveyard in the evening after three namaj-e-janazas at Basabo, Bangla Academy and the Jatiya Press Club.
Fazal Shahabuddin, the founding editor of the once-popular weekly Bichitra, was born on February 4, 1936 in Dhaka. He received his bachelor degree from Jagannath College (now, Jagannath University) in 1962.
He also served as the editor of the weekly Sachitra Sandhani and worked for the vernacular daily Dainik Bangla.
Shahabuddin's first poem "Sandhya" was published in the Bangla daily Millat in 1953 but he rose to popularity following the publication of his first book of poems Trishnar Augnite Eka in 1965.
His other important poetic works include Okankhito Oshundar, Atotayee Suryasto, Ontorikkhe Oronyo, Aloheen Ondhokarheen, Amar Nirbachito Kobita, Artonad, Sonnetguchchho and Prithibi Amar Prithibi.
His last book Ekjon Kobi Ekaki was published in 2013.
For his contribution to Bangla literature, Shahabuddin received the Bangla Academy Literature Award in 1973 and the Ekushey Padak in 1988.
His colleagues and well-wishers mourned his death.
Terming him a poet of nature, Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan, director general of Bangla Academy, said Shahabuddin's works added a new feather to the crown of Bangla literature.