Director General of Bangla Academy Poet Habibullah Sirajee passed away last night.

He was 72.

He died at the Bangladesh Specialised Hospital in Shyamoli around 11:00pm, said Bangla Academy Secretary and acting director general AHM Lokman in a statement.

Lokman said the body of the poet would be brought to the Bangla Academy premises at 10:00am today so that people could pay their last respect maintaining Covid-19 health guidelines. His first namaz-e-janaza would be held there.

His second janaza would be held at Azimpur Graveyard before his burial there, Lokman said in the statement expressing deep sadness at the poet's demise.

Sirajee was admitted to the hospital in February with cardiac and digestion complications. Rings were put on his heart on February 27. He returned home on March 2.

Sirajee was a renowned poet of contemporary Bangla language. He has about 50 books of verse to his credit. His poems portray the struggling history of Bangladesh, her glorious War of Independence and continuous progress.

His prose is of a distinctive kind.

He has written more than 10 books for children.

His writings attract and inspire both readers and writers, irrespective of age. His works have been translated into other languages. 

Sirajee was born on December 31, 1948, at Rasulpur in Faridpur.

He had graduated from Buet in 1970. 

Siraji served Jatiya Kabita Parishad as president for four terms. He received Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Literary Award, Jessore Literary Parishad Award, Bishnu Dey Award and Jatiya Kabita Parishad Award.