Hasan Arif, an eminent elocutionist and cultural activist, dies at 56

Hasan Arif, a renowned recitation artist and general secretary of the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, has died in hospital care at the age of 56.

Arif, who had been on life support for the last few months, passed away at the capital's Bangladesh Specialized Hospital around 1:50 pm on Friday, according to Golam Quddus, president of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote.

“His body is still in the hospital. We will make a decision about the funeral and burial later,” he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her condolences over the death of the cultural personality.

Arif had contracted COVID-19 in December last year and was later placed on life support as his condition deteriorated.

A former general secretary of the Bangladesh Recitation Coordinating Council, Arif had been actively engaged in democratic and cultural movements in Bangladesh, starting with the anti-authoritarian uprising in the 1990s.

Nasiruddin Yousuff, a former president of the Jote, said Arif’s remains would be kept at the hospital’s mortuary overnight.

His body will be taken to his home in Dhanmondi on Saturday morning. After funeral prayers, the body will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 11am for people to pay their last respects to the artist.

After another round of funeral prayers at Dhaka University Central Mosque in the afternoon, the body will be taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

Nasiruddin said there will be no burial for Arif because the artist donated his body for posthumous medical research. The body will be handed over to the university at 3pm.