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Renowned children’s writer, journalist, lyricist and cultural activist Akhtar Hossain died while undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Medical University in Dhaka on Thursday. He was 81.
He died around 1pm, journalist and humour writer Tapas Roy confirmed, citing a source present at the hospital.
Hossain had been admitted to a Dhaka hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage and had remained unconscious while receiving treatment.
His death has cast a pall of grief over Bangladesh’s literary and cultural communities. Mahmud Selim, acting president of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, said in a social media post that Hossain’s body would be kept at the Central Shaheed Minar from 10am to 11am on Friday for people from all walks of life to pay their respects.
Journalist and children’s writer Rashed Rauf described Hossain as a prominent children’s author, rhymester, poet, essayist, researcher, editor and freedom fighter.
Hossain was born on November 1, 1945, in Nurullapur village of Lalpur upazila in Natore. His father, T.I.M. Sikandar, worked for the railway, and Hossain spent his childhood and adolescence in different parts of the country, including Khulna, Gafargaon and Kulaura.
His literary career began in Gafargaon, while his first published writing appeared in Kulaura. He began his professional career as a journalist and worked for the daily Khabar from 1985 to 1987.
A founding member of Udichi, Hossain wrote and directed many of the organisation’s early stage productions. He was also a leading organiser of Khelaghar and played an important role in the children’s cultural movement.
He became particularly known for his rhymes and children’s literature. His works included the organisational song “Amra to Soinik, Shantir Soinik” for Chhatra Union and Khelaghar. During the 1971 Liberation War, his song “Swadhin Swadhin Dike Dike Aj Jagchhe Bangalira” was broadcast by Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.
Hossain edited around 30 to 40 books and authored nearly 80 books comprising rhymes, stories, short stories and plays. He also edited numerous literary collections and contributed to the five-volume Shishu-Bishwakosh published by Bangladesh Shishu Academy.
His honours included the Alaol Literary Award, Bangladesh Shishu Academy Award, Bhasha Shaheed Abdul Jabbar Memorial Medal and Bangla Academy Award, among numerous other recognitions.