The nation will bid a solemn farewell to Language Movement veteran, eminent poet, essayist and Rabindra researcher Ahmed Rafiq as his body will be kept at Central Shaheed Minar today for the public to pay respects.
Chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus and people from all walks of life on Friday expressed deep sorrow at the death of the nonagenarian poet and essayist.
Ahmed Rafiq鈥檚 body will be kept at Central Shaheed Minar from 11:00am to allow people from all walks of life to offer their tributes to the celebrated intellectual and cultural icon, said a press release of Ahmed Rafiq Foundation.
Leaders from cultural, literary and political quarters are expected to converge on Shahid Minar today to pay their last homage to the cultural icon at the ceremony organised by Ahmed Rafiq Foundation.
Later on, a mourning procession will carry his coffin to Ibrahim Medical College in the capital to hand over his body to the college authorities as Ahmed Rafiq had donated his body to the institution.聽
Ahmed Rafiq passed away at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka on Thursday night at the age of 96 due to old-age complications.
In a condolence message, the chief adviser said, 鈥楢hmed Rafiq was a prominent witness and a fierce voice of our Language Movement. Simultaneously, he was an exceptional poet, essayist, researcher, and a guiding light in Rabindra studies.鈥�
Praying for eternal peace of the departed soul, Yunus said, 鈥楾he life and work of Ahmed Rafiq will inspire our future generations. The nation will remember him with gratitude.鈥�
The chief adviser also conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family, well-wishers and literature and culture-loving people.
Among others, cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, social welfare and women and children affairs adviser Sharmeen S Murshid, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Biplobi Communist League along with other political parties, and socio-cultural organisations, including Dhaka University, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi, Charan Sangskritik Kendra, and BotTala expressed deep shock at the death of the renowned writer.
They also conveyed their heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.
Ahmed Rafiq鈥檚 literary works include Nirbasita Nayak, Shilpa Sangskriti Jiban, Nazrul Kabye Jibansadhana, Arek Kalantare and Nirbachita Rabindranath.
The revered author received Bangla Academy Literary Award, among several other awards.
Born on September 12, 1929 in Shahbazpur under Brahmanbaria district, Rafiq was a prominent figure in the historic 1952 Language Movement.
