Noted poet, journalist Fazal Shahabuddin died on Sunday morning at his residence at Khilgaon in the city after suffering from old age complications. He was 78. The poet is survived by his widow and four children.
Shahabuddin’s first Namaz-e-janaza was held after the Asar prayer at the Jatiya Press Club and the second one was held at the Nazrul Mancha of the Bangla Academy after the Maghrib prayer.The poet was buried at the Banani Graveyard.
Fazal Shahabuddin was born on February 4, 1936 at Nabinagar in Comilla. He received his graduation from the then Jagannath College in 1962.
The poet published his first book on poetry, Trishnar Agnit-e Eka, in 1965 and his last book, Ekjon Kabi Ekaki, was published in 2013.
Poet Fazal Shahabuddin wrote about 27 collections of poems including Anakankhito Asundar, Atotayie Surjasto, Alohin Andhokarhin, Sonnet Guccha, Amar Nirbachito Kabita, Hey Nil Samudra Hey Brikkho Sabuj, Dikchinha Hin, Chhina Bhinna Koikjon, Batashed Kanche, Chhaya Kromagato, Prithibi Amar Prithibi, Krondhondhoni O Kromagato Hahakar and Nisarger Sanglap.
Shahabuddin was the founder editor of popular defunct magazine Bichitra. Shahabuddin was also the editor of the poetry magazine Kabikantha.
Poet Shahabuddin played an important role in Asia Poetry Festival held in the 1990s.
The poet was honoured with the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1973 and the Ekushey Padak in 1988.
His peers mourned the death of poet Fazal Shahabuddin. Noted poet Rafiq Azad evaluates Fazal Shahabuddin as one of the great poets of modern Bangla poetry. ‘His poems were unparallel. He was really great in writing romantic poems and I would rather say he was the pioneer of depicting love in poems,’ said Azad, who also shared that the people of the country will always remember the poet with great respect.
‘He was smarter than his time. His diction, subject matter and his approach to the theme was really smart and modern,’ poet Asad Chowdhury told New Age.
‘He even smartly dealt with off-beat themes like sexuality in his poetry. And another important thing is that he actually shaped entertainment journalism in the country. However, it is his poetry that will keep him afresh in the mind of the people,’ Asad Chowdhury added.
Poet Mahbub Talukdar, who was also a close companion of Shahabuddin, shared that the poet was a good-natured person.
‘He was jovial and friendly and was like an elder brother to me,’ Talukdar told New Age. ‘He was a poet to the core and his death is a great loss for the nation,’ also said Talukdar.
-With New Age input
