Last respects paid to Shahid Qadri at Central Shaheed Minar

Shahid Qadri, the poet who infused Bengali poems with a sense of modernity, was paid last respects by hundreds of thousands on Wednesday when his body arrived at the Central Shaheed Minar.

The mortal remains of the Ekushey Padak winner was brought back home on Wednesday morning following his wish to be buried here.

The government arranged for Qadri’s body to be flown to Bangladesh.

It arrived in a plane at around 8am and was taken to the residence of Qadri’s brother in Barhidhara.

The poet who salutes his dearest country Bangladesh in his poem “Tomake Obhibadon Priyotama” died in a New York hospital at the age of 74 on Sunday. He was suffering from pneumonia.

Qadri had expressed his agony over the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his poem “Hontarokder Proti” (To the murderers).

Sammilita Sangskritik Jote and Jatiya Kobita Parishad took his body at the Central Shaheed Minar around 11am for paying the last tributes.

Tribute was paid on behalf of the prime minister. Thousands of others including cultural activists, fans and readers turned up to pay respect.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni and Additional Secretary of cultural affairs ministry Manjurur Rahman placed floral wreaths on the coffin.

Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Dhaka University, University of Asia Pacific, Liberation War Museum, Sector Commanders Forum, Bangladesh Writers’ Club, Dhaka Theatre, Bangladesh Gram Theatre, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and Gana Sanghati Andolan paid their tributes among other social, cultural and political entities.

Qadri’s Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at Dhaka University Central Mosque after Zuhr prayers, said Sammilita Sangskritik Jote President Golam Quddus.

The poet had left the country nearly four decades ago.

After some time in Germany and England, he settled in the United States in 1985.

He will be laid to rest at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard after the Namaz-e-Janaza.

Shahid Qadri is one of the prominent poets of post-1947 Bengali poetry, who brought in a fresh air by introducing urbanism and a sense of modernity in terms of the use of urban-life-related diction.

His poetry is infused with patriotism, cosmopolitanism and universalism. While it deals with nature and urbanity, it delves deep into the conflicts and the sense of alienation pervading our modern life.

He received the Bangla Academy Award and the Ekushey Padak in 1973 and 2011 respectively for his contribution to language and literature.

Qadri is revered for his books Uttaradhikar (Inheritance), Tomake Obhibadon Priyatama (Salute to You, Dearest), Kothao Kono Krondon Nei (Weepings Nowhere), and Amar Chumbangullo Pouchhiye Dio (Please, Convey My Kisses).