Eminent Bangladeshi poet Helal Hafiz has passed away at the age of 76. He was brought to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital around 2:30 pm on Friday in a lifeless state, said Brigadier General Md Rezaur Rahman, the hospital director, according to media reports.
Helal Hafiz’s debut poetry collection, “Je Jole Agun Jole” (The Water That Burns), was published in 1986. It captured the hearts of many.
His verses resonated with avid poetry enthusiasts and touched the hearts of those who were not regular literature followers.
The poems in “Je Jole Agun Jole” were written between 1969 and 1985, as marked by the dates noted at the end of each poem.
Helal Hafiz left his imprint on every facet of life through struggles, movements, love, heartbreak, and rebellion.
His poems “Nishiddho Sompadokio” (Banned Editorial) and “Agni Utsav” (Festival of Fire) stirred hearts to their core.
His words transcend contexts and are not limited to events; they resonate universally against injustice, exploitation, and oppression.
The poetry collection “Je Jole Agun Jole” brought Helal Hafiz immense fame.
He refrained from publishing any new books for many years afterward.
His second collection, “Kobita Ekattor” (Poetry ’71), was released in 2012. It includes some additional poems, along with those from his first book.
His most recent work, “Bedonake Bolechhi Kedo Na” (I Told Pain Not to Cry), was published in 2019.
Helal Hafiz’s unparalleled fame with such a limited body of work remains unmatched in Bangladeshi literature.
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