Ailing poet Belal Chowdhury put on life support

Ailing poet Belal Chowdhury has been put on life support after his health deteriorated at a hospital in Dhaka.

His son Abdullah Pratik Yusuf Chowdhury told bdnews24.com the 79-year old has been undergoing treatment at Anwar Khan Modern Hospital for around four months.

He was taken to the intensive care unit on Thursday night when his condition deteriorated.

"As his condition worsened further, the doctors put him on life support on Friday afternoon," he added.

Pratik said his father was suffering from anaemia, and kidney and thyroid complications.

Belal Chowdhury, whose works range from poetry to articles and translations, had edited Bharat Bichitra magazine published by the High Commission of India in Dhaka. He also edited weekly Sandwip.

He had worked at Sunil Gangopadhyay’s literary magazine Krittibas when in India.

He received the Ekushey Padak in 2014 and the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1984.

Belal Chowdhury’s books include ‘Nishad Prodeshe’, ‘Atmoprotikriti’, ‘Sthirjibon O Nisorgo’, ‘Swapnabondi’, ‘Selai Kora Chhaya’, ‘Kobitar Kamolbone’, ‘Jabojjibon Sashram Ullase’ and ‘Batrish Nombor’.