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People from all walks of life pay their last respects to the beloved poet
Published : 14 Dec 2024, 05:58 PM
Beloved poet Helal Hafiz has received a heartfelt farewell marked by love and respect.
For a man who embraced solitude throughout his life, his final moments were far from lonely as mourners gathered to pay tribute, covering his coffin with flowers and shedding tears.
State advisors, secretaries, and officials from various departments joined journalists, poets, writers, and people from all walks of life to honour him one last time after his death on Friday.
On Saturday, Helal’s body was brought to the Bangla Academy premises at 11am, where tributes were offered and the first funeral prayer, led by his elder brother Dulal Abdul Hafiz, was held.
Later in the afternoon, after a second funeral prayer at the National Press Club, his body was taken to the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur, where he was laid to rest.
A LIFE OF SOLITUDE
Dulal shared memories of his brother’s chosen lifestyle. “He always cherished a solitary life. My wife and I tried to convince him to marry, but he was adamant. Eventually, he left home in protest.”
“He chose this path of solitude. We tried to make him embrace family life, but he wasn’t interested. His passing, too, reflected the life he chose. He refused hospitalisation, almost as if he had prepared to embrace death.”
Helal spent his final days in a hostel called Super Home in Dhaka’s Shahbagh. On Friday afternoon, he fell in the bathroom and suffered a fatal head injury. Despite being rushed to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), he was declared dead upon arrival.
A POET OF LOVE AND REBELLION
Helal's solitary life was also reflected in the words of Hasan Hafiz, president of the National Press Club, who shared a close bond with him for many years.
Speaking at the Press Club, Hasan said, “My surname wasn’t originally Hafiz. It was given to me by Helal Hafiz.”
Reflecting on their relationship, he added, “The Press Club and Helal Hafiz were inseparable. We all tried to convince him to settle down, but he refused. Even when we arranged for his hospital admission, he left before the doctor arrived.”
Expressing his grief, Hasan said, “Much of my success as a poet is owed to him. I feel deeply heartbroken… I am truly wounded.”
“He was an extraordinary man with a tender heart. His poetry will keep him alive. Through his works, filled with love, rebellion, and dreams of a new Bangladesh, he inspired us with the spirit of independence and progress.”
TRIBUTES POUR IN
Among those who paid tribute at the Press Club were Advisor Asif Nazrul, Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, and the Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
At the Bangla Academy, filmmaker Farooki, freedom fighter and Liberation War Affairs Advisor Faruk E Azam (Bir Protik), and many others, including Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam, also attended the service.
Organisations including the National Press Club, National Poetry Council, Ministry of Culture, Dhaka Union of Journalists, Dhaka Reporters Unity, Bangladesh Students’ Union, and Udichi Shilpigoshthi offered floral tributes.
Speaking about the poet’s solitary lifestyle, Farooki said, “Helal Hafiz chose this life of solitude. While we might lament it, I don’t believe he ever regretted his choice.”
Addressing questions about state recognition, Farooki added, “He earned the love of countless people. It’s remarkable that just one book of poetry could garner such admiration.”
“To my knowledge, he never received the Independence Award or the Ekushey Padak. Many of his writings remain unpublished. If there’s anything the Ministry of Culture can do to preserve his legacy, we will ensure it is done.”
Born on Oct 7, 1948, in Netrakona, Helal Hafiz published his first poetry book, “Je Jale Agun Jole”, in 1986. Since then, over 33 editions of the book have been published.
In 2012, he published his second book called ''Kabita Ekattor'' for his readers, and received the Bangla Academy Award for poetry in 2013. The third and last book ''Bedonake Bolechi Kedo Na'' was published in 2019.
He enrolled in the Bangla Department at Dhaka University after completing his higher secondary studies at Netrokona College in 1967.
His poem "Nishiddha Shampadakio", written during the mass uprising of 1969, catapulted him to literary fame, with its powerful verses becoming the rallying cry of the movement's processions.
