Poet and writer professor Alauddin Al Azad died at his Uttara residence in Dhaka on Friday night. He was 78.

Azad, also a language movement hero and academician, was survived by his widow, relatives, a host of friends, admirers and students to mourn his death. His first namaj-e-janaza was held after Asr prayers on Saturday at Uttara sector-7 jam-e-masjid.

His body will be brought to the Central Shaheed Minar at 10:00am today and kept there for one hour for visitors to pay their last respect to the poet.

Later, another namaj-e-janaja will be held at Dhaka University central mosque. He will be buried at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard.

Dr Azad’s famous poem ‘Smritir Minar Bhengechhe Tomar, Bhoy ki Bandhu’ was an instantaneous reaction to the sight of the ruins of the temporary memorial erected by the students on February 26, 1952, which the police pulled down four days after Salam, Jabbar, Rafique and some others were killed in police firing at the spot on February 21. Azad, then a student of Dhaka University, recited the poem at the site of the ruins and it was published in the first souvenir of the Language Movement edited by poet Hassan Hafizur Rahman in 1953.

President Zillur Rahman expressed profound shock at his death. Dr Alauddin Al Azad was a talented litterateur. His fictions and poems depict the life of mass people of the country and uphold their causes, the president said in a message.

Recalling Azad’s contribution to the 1952 Language Movement, the president said, ‘In his death, we have lost a patriot and talented writer.’

The president conveyed sympathy to his bereaved family and prayed for salvation of the departed soul.

Sheikh Shahidul Islam, general secretary of Jatiya Party (Ershad) expressed shock at his death and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family, said a press release.

Among others, civil aviation and tourism minister GM Kader visited the residence of Alauddin Al Azad on Saturday.

Newsmen and staff of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) in a meeting on Saturday observed one-minute silence to pay respect to the eminent litterateur.

Azad authored more than 123 books, including short stories, novels, poems and literary criticism. He had also been the Principal of Dhaka College and ‘Nazrul Professor’ of Bangla department at Chittagong University during 1980’s.

Dr Azad received a good number of awards, including Bangla Academy Award, UNESCO Award, Ekushey Padak, National Film Award, Abul Kalam Shamsuddin Literary Award, Lekhika Sangha Award and Natyasava Award for his outstanding contribution to Bengali literature.

He had also served as the educational consul at the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow for a period in 1970s.

He had also worked for the Bengali dailies Ittefaq, Millat, Insaf and Sangbad.

Azad was named the ‘Man of the Year 1991’ by the American Biographical Institute for his accomplishment and the noble example he set for his country. He was the first personality in Asia to receive this international honour.

The ABI also published a detailed biography of Dr Azad, including his famous poem ‘Portrait of Pushkin’, in the third edition of the international directory of distinguished leadership.

His novels include Teish Number Toilchitra, Shiter Sheshrat Basanter Pratham Din, Karnafuli, Khashra Kagoj, Shyam Chhayar Sangbad, Jyotsnar Ajana Jiban, Swagatam Bhalobasha, Apar Joddhara and Purana Paltan.

Some of his short stories are – Jege Achhi, Dhankanya, Mriganavi, Andhakar Shiri, Ujan Tarangey, Jakhan Shaikat and Amar Rakta Swapna Amar.

His books of poems include Manchitra, Bhorer Nadir Mohanay Jagoran, Surjo Jalar Swapna, Lelihan Pandulipi. Ferari Diary is his reminiscences of the liberation war of Bangladesh.

Alauddin Al Azad was born in Narsingdi in 1932.