Eminent author Shawkat Ali passes away
UNB
Ekushey Padak winning author Shawkat Ali passed away at a city hospital yesterday morning, reports UNB. He was 82. Journalist Asif Shawkat Kollol, son of the renowned novelist, told UNB that his father breathed his last at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the capital around 8:15am. On January 4, Shawkat Ali was admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Lab Aid Hospital with a lung infection and kidney and heart ailments. He has been put on life support on January 6. Later, the author was shifted to BSMMU. Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid expressed profound shock at the death of author Shawkat Ali.
In a condolence message, President Hamid said the demise of Shawkat is really an irreparable loss for the Bengali Literature. He also prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and also expressed sincere sympathy to the bereaved family. Shawkat Ali was honored with Bangla Academy Award in 1968 and Ekushey Padak in 1990. He also received Philips Literary Award in 1986 and 1989, Lekhak Shibir Medal in 1978, Ajit Guha Literary Prize in 1982. Born on February 12, 1936 at Raiganj in Dinajpur of West Bengal, the author has contributed to Bengali fiction for the last four decades. His novels include Jatra, Prodoshe Prakritojon, Dakkhinayaner Din and Uttarer Khep - occupy a major part of Bengali Literature. Of them, Uttarer Khep was adapted into a film.
