Renowned poet Helal Hafiz will be laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in Mirpur after his second namaz-e-janaza at the National Press Club following Zohr prayer today (December 14).

Preparations for his burial began early in the morning, with the graveyard authorities starting the process of digging the grave, Banglanews correspondent reports.

The first namaz-e-janaza for the poet was held earlier in the day at Bangla Academy, and the second will follow at the National Press Club in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Helal Hafiz passed away on Friday (December 13) at the age of 76. The poet had been battling multiple health issues, including glaucoma, kidney complications, diabetes, and nerve problems. 

Hafiz earned the repute of being an established poet of verve, vigour and emptiness long ahead of the publication of his first collection of poems: Je Jale Agun Jwale (The water where fire is ignited) in 1986.

But Hafiz visibly preferred a self-exile from the literary arena for years after the publication of the Je Jale Agun Jwale.

He, however, gradually resumed his literary activities recently coming up with his Kabita Ekattur (Poems Seventy One) to make visible again his formidable presence in the literary arena.

His literary works earned a lot of feathers in his hate in the form of awards and recognitions while he won Bangla Academy Award in 2913.

Born on October 7, 1948, in Netrakona, Helal Hafiz largely grew up at his village in his northern ancestral home passed the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination from Netrakona Datta High School in 1965, HSC exam from Netrakona College in 1967 and then got enrolled in Bangla department of premier Dhaka University.

He made his debut as a journalist in the now defunct Dainik Purbodesh in 1972 while he was still a university student. His last workplace was the Daily Jugantar.

BDST: 1210 HRS, DEC 14, 2024
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