Farid Ahmed, a national award-winning music director, passed away at a hospital in Dhaka yesterday. He was 60.

He breathed his last at 9:30am at Square Hospital, renowned lyricist and his friend Farida Farhana, told The Daily Star.

The esteemed composer had tested positive for Covid-19 last month, along with his wife, Shiuly Akhter. As his condition deteriorated, he was taken to the hospital on March 25. Even though his wife recovered, Farid was still battling kidney and diabetes-related complications.

Farid Ahmed was born in the capital's Kalabagan. The artiste, who won the National Film Award in 2017 for his work in "Tumi Robe Nirobe", has over 300 scores for television serials and almost 3,000 scores for short television dramas under his belt, and is considered a legend in the music industry. 

He was at the helm of the Music Composers' Association of Bangladesh.

Some of his notable work include "Tumi Chara Ami Jeno Morubhumi" with  Kumar Bishwajit, "Ferari Siren" with Runa Laila and "Dalchhut Projaputi"  voiced by Sabina Yasmin and Runa Laila.

Farid had also made hundreds of title songs for popular shows such as Ityadi, Hridoye Mati O Manush and Channel-i Shera Kontho.

Eminent singers Runa Laila, Kumar Bishwajit, Fahmida Nabi and many others paid their tributes and shared experiences of working with Farid. Besides, eminent actor Abul Hayat and Chanchal Chowdhury also paid their respects.

His namaz-e-janaza was held after Asr prayers on Kalabagan Law College field. He was buried in Rayer Bazar Graveyard.

He is survived by his wife, Shiuly Akhter, and daughter, Durdana Farid.