Dhaka: People from all walks of life paid their last tributes to poet Belal Chowdhury at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city on Wednesday.

His body was taken to Central Shaheed Minar around 11 am where people from all walks of life, including ministers, political leaders, writers, poets and cultural activists, paid their last tributes to the poet until 12:15pm.

The dead body of the Ekushey Padak winning poet is now on way to his village home Sarishadi village in Feni. He will be buried beside his parent’s graves there, said family members.

Belal Chowdhury breathed his last at 12:30 pm at Anwar Khan Modern Hospital in Dhanmondi on Tuesday.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on behalf of Awami League, Vice-Chancellor of  Dhaka University Akhtaruzzaman, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon, among others, placed wreath on his coffin at Shaheed Minar.

Obaidul Quader said, “Belal Chowdhury’s death is great loss for Bengali literature. The nation will remember his brave role in the cultural movement.”

Different organizations including Bangla Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and some other cultural, social and political organizations paid their respects to the poet.  

The second namaz-e-janaza of the poet was held at Dhaka University Central Mosque after the Johr Prayers while the first namaz-e-janza was held at Paltan Mosque after Maghrib prayers on Tuesday.

Chowdhury served Bharat Bichitra as its editor, published from Indian embassy in Dhaka. He was also an editor of Shaptahik Sandwip and Krittibas, a Bengali poetry magazine edited by Sunil Gangopadhyay.

Belal Chowdhury also has the reputation as journalist, essayist and translator. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2014 for his literary contribution. He also received Bangla Academy Literary Award.

Belal Chowdhury was born on November 12, 1938, in Sarshadi village of Feni in the then Bengal Presidency under the British rule.