Syed Haq no more

Prolific Bengali author, poet and playwright Syed Shamsul Haq has died of lung cancer at the age of 80, doctors said.Doctors at the United Hospital declared him dead 5:26pm.After being diagnosed with lung cancer, the octogenarian went to London for treatment in April but returned on September 2 to spend the rest of his life in Bangladesh as doctors there found no hope of recovery. The writer won the Bangla Academy Award in 1966, Ekushey Padak in 1984 and Bangladesh's highest civilian honor, Independence Award, in 2000 for his contribution to Bangla literature.

He was always vocal against the fundamentalist stream in Bangladesh. Haq was born on December 27, 1935 at Kurhigram.Haq married Anwara Syed Haq. She is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London. Together they have one daughter, Bidita Sadiq, and one son, Ditio Syed Haq. Bidita teaches English literature at higher school level. Ditio, an IT specialist, writes stories, lyrics and music.He lived alternately in Dhaka and London.
His literary genius spreads across genres and he is known to wield equal mastery over essays, novel, poetry, and plays. His literary works were included in the curriculum of school level, secondary, higher secondary and graduation level Bengali literature in Bangladesh.

Some of his best-known plays are considered milestones in the history of theatre in Bangladesh.He had won every major award there was in the field of literature in the country including Independence Award (2000), Ekushey Padak (1984), Bangla Academy Award (1966), Adamjee Literary Award (1969), Alakta Gold Medal (1982), Alaol Literary Award (1983), Kabitalap Award (1983), Literary Award of the Association of Women Writers, Jebunnessa-Mahbubullah Gold Medal (1985), Padabali Kabita Award (1987), Nasiruddin Gold Medal (1990), National Poetry Award (1997), National Poetry Honour (2001), and TENAS Medal (1990).


Syed Shamsul Haq's death drew condolences from all over the world. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now in the US, expressed her condolences and inquired about the poet's family. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and many cultural activists, litterateurs, academics, students, and fans rushed to the hospital on the poet's death news.