Helal Hafiz, a poet of rebellion and love, dies at 76

Eminent poet Helal Hafiz has died at the age of 76.

Though critics may debate his literary standing, his popularity has cemented his place among Bangladesh’s most celebrated poets.

He spent his final days at a hostel named Super Home in Dhaka’s Shahbagh.

On Friday afternoon, he suffered a fall in the bathroom, resulting in bleeding. He was rushed to the nearby Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

“He was brought to the hospital at 2:35pm, but he had already passed away. He was staying at a hostel. The Shahbagh Police Station has been informed and is looking into the matter,” said BSMMU Director Rezaur Rahman.

Helal Hafiz, born on Oct 7, 1948, in Netrakona, 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 in 1969, brought him poetic fame. His poem became the slogan of the procession.