Dhaka: Country’s eminent poet Al Mahmud passed away at a hospital in the capital on Friday night. He was 82.
The noted poet breathed his last around 11pm at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Ibn Sina Hospital at Dhanmondi in the city, the family sources have confirmed.
Earlier on Jan 9, the legendary poet Al Mahmud was kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital as he fell sick suddenly.
Poet Al Mahmud celebrated his 82nd birth anniversary in June last year and he has been suffering from multiple old age complications.
His last publication, his autobiography titled ‘Jiban Jakhan Bak Ghore’, was published during the Amar Ekushey Granthamela in 2017.
Al Mahmud was born at Mourail village in Brahmanbaria in 1936. Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud started writing poems as Al Mahmud at his teenage.
He composed Sonali Kabin, Kaler Kalash and several other wonderful collections of contemporary Bangla poems.
A language movement veteran, Mahmud fled his home and came to Dhaka in 1954. Subsequently began working as a journalist with the Dainik Millat and weekly magazine Kafela.
In 1968, he received Bangla Academy award while Ekushey Padak in 1987.
He also wrote novels and short story collections, including, Pankourir Rakto, Gandha Banik, Dahuki, Jebhabe Bere Uthi, Kabi O Kolahol, Upamohadesh, Kabiler Bon, Nishinda Nari and Purush Sundar.
The poet joined Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1975 as assistant director at research and publication department. In 1993, he retired from the academy as the director of the department.
