Bangladesh
Syed Abul Maksud Columnist Syed Abul Maksud dies
Dhaka, February 24: The country's famous columnist, researcher, essayist and journalist Syed Abul Maksud (74) is no more (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilahi Raziun). He breathed his last at the Square Hospital in the capital on Tuesday (February 23) evening. Abul Maksud is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
According to the information desk of Square Hospital, Abul Maksud was taken to the emergency department of Square Hospital from his house in Dhanmondi at 7:09 pm in a critical condition. But doctors on duty said he died on the way. The cause of his death was not immediately known.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed deep grief over the death of Syed Abul Maksud. They prayed for the forgiveness of the soul of the deceased and conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.
Born on 23 October 1946 in Elachipur, Manikganj to Syed Abul Mahmud and Saleha Begum, Abul Maksud graduated from Dhaka College and then from Dhaka University. He later earned a diploma in journalism from the then West Germany.
Syed Abul Maksud started his career as a journalist in 1964 in the weekly Nabayug edited by M Anisuzzaman. He joined Bangladesh Barta Sangstha in 1971. On March 2, 2008, he resigned from the editorial department of the news agency. However, he continued to write columns in the national dailies on society, politics, literature and culture.
Abul Maksud, the founding editor of the daily Supravhat Bangladesh published from Chittagong, started his literary career in the sixties with poems, stories and essays. Towards the end of his life he was vocal in all these areas of creativity.
In recognition of his overall contribution, he was awarded various honours, including Bangla Academy Award and Rishi Award in 1995.
