Helal Hafiz, one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated poets, passed away on Friday (13 December), at the age of 76.
He breathed his last at a hostel named Super Home in Shahbagh, where he had been residing for years. Hafiz had been battling glaucoma for a prolonged period, along with complications arising from kidney disease, diabetes, and neurological issues.
The news of his death was confirmed by filmmaker Shabnam Ferdousi, who stated that the poet passed away at his hostel and was later taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
Born on 7 October 1948 in Netrokona, Helal Hafiz emerged as a literary voice that captured the tumultuous spirit of the 1960s. After completing his higher secondary education at Netrokona College in 1967, he enrolled in the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University, where his poetic journey gained momentum.
The 1969 mass uprising in Bangladesh served as a crucible for Hafiz’s poetry, and it was during this period that his iconic poem "Nishiddho Shampadakiya" (The Forbidden Editorial) catapulted him to fame. His verses, particularly the immortal lines:
"Ekhon Joubon Jar, Michhile Jabar Tar Shreshtho Shomoy / Ekhon Joubon Jar, Juddhe Jabar Tar Shreshtho Shomoy"
(“This is the finest hour for the youth to march, the finest hour for the youth to fight”) became rallying cries for both the Liberation War and later, the anti-autocracy movements of the 1990s.
Hafiz’s first poetry collection, Je Jole Agun Jole (The Fire That Burns), published in 1986, cemented his place in the literary pantheon. The book, which has seen over 33 editions, remains a bestseller and a testament to his enduring popularity. Despite his prominence, Hafiz retreated from the public eye for an extended period, only to return with Kobita 71 in 2012, his second collection. His third and final anthology, Bedonake Bolechhi Kendona (I Told Pain Not to Cry), was published in 2019.
Helal Hafiz received numerous accolades for his literary contributions, including the prestigious Bangla Academy Award in 2013. He was also the recipient of the Khalekdad Chowdhury Award, among other honours.
In his final decade, Hafiz led a solitary life, moving between various hotels in Dhaka. Despite his physical ailments and personal struggles, his poetry remained a beacon of hope and resilience for countless admirers.
