Dhaka: Bangladesh legendary singer-composer and freedom fighter Lucky Akhand died of cancer at a city hospital on Friday.

The 61-year-old singer breathed his last at Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, hospital sources said. 

The singer’s niece Deap told NTV Online that Lucky Akhand breathed his last at about 6:30pm at a Dhaka hospital after suffering from lung cancer.

Singer Fahmida Nabi posted a status on her Facebook wall announcing the death of Lucky Akhand.

In 2015, Lucky Akhand was diagnosed with lung cancer while the legendary singer was later treated in Thailand. He received financial help from the prime minister's fund. 

Lucky Akhand, born on 18 June 1956, started his career with self-titled solo album 'Lucky Akhand' in 1984 under the banner of Sargam.

Some of the notable songs on that album were "Agey Jodi Jantam", "Amay Dekona", "Mamonia", "Ei Neel Monihar", "Hridoy Amar".

His composed songs for the album of his brother in which "Abar Elo Je Sondha" and "Ke Bashi Bajaire" sung by Akhand, "Shadinota Tomake Niye", "Pahari Jhorna", sung by Happy Akhand and himself and "Nil Nil Shari Pore" and "Hothat Kore Bangladesh" sung by himself were notable songs. "Abar Elo Je Sondha" was used in Bangla film named Ghuddi in 1988.

Akhand stopped his career after the death of his younger brother, Happy Akhand in 1987. He returned after a decade with two albums named Porichoy Kobe Hobe and Bitrishna Jibone Amar in 1998. Porichoy Kobe Hobe was the second solo album and the remake of his Happy Akhand's solo album. Bitrishna Jibone Amar was a band and modern mix album.

He won the first prize in "Modern Bangla Songs" category from the Pakistan Art Council in 1969.

In a condolence message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her profound shock at the death of Akhand.

The prime minister recalled the contribution of Lucky Akhand to the field of music and Liberation War.

Sheikh Hasina prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique also mourned his death.