Legendary Bengali poet and valiant freedom fighter Rafiq Azad was laid to eternal rest with state honour at Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Graveyard here on Monday.
Earlier, the body was taken at the Central Shaheed Minar where a cross section of people paid glowing tributes to Azad, who is most well-known for his poem ‘Bhaat de haramjada’.
A contingent of police offered the guard of honour and salutes as sombre looked admirers and fans stood in solemn silence at the altar of the Shaheed Minar against the backdrop of last post in bugles also recalling his contribution to the 1971 Liberation War.
Ministers, artistries, poets, writers, politicians, intellectuals and people from all strata of life thronged to the Shaheed Minar to have a last glimpse to the poet.
Among others, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Bangla Academy Chairman Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman, PM’s Special Assistant Mahbubul Haque Shakil, poets Syed Shamsul Haque and Kazi Rozi, noted cultural personalities Ramendu Majumder, Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu, Communist Party President Mujahidul Islam Selim paid their last tributes to Azad by placing wreaths at his coffin.
Azad’s body was later taken to the Bangla Academy premises and then to the Dhaka University mosque where his last namaj-e-janaza was held after Zohr prayer.
Born on Feb 14, 1941, at Tangail’s Ghatail, Rafiq Azad finished his studies in Bangla at Dhaka University in 1967.
He also worked from 1972 to 1984 as the executive editor of monthly ‘Uttaradhikar’, published by Bangla Academy.
He was honoured with awards for his outstanding contributions to the War of Liberation and literature.
