Poet Sajjad Kadir dies

Renowned poet and journalist Sajjad Kadir has died at a Dhaka hospital at the age of 70. A member of National Press Club (NPC), Kadir breathed his last at Suhrawardy Hospital on Thursday around 2pm as he suffered a cardiac arrest, family sources said. His body was taken to the NPC premises in the afternoon, where journalists paid homage to the poet by placing floral wreaths at his coffin, reports UNB. His first namaj-e-janaza was held there after the Asr prayers. NPC President Shafiqur Rahman, General Secretary Farida Yasmin and leaders of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists joined the janaza. Later, his body was taken to his ancestral home at Delduar village in Tangail. Born on April 14, 1947 in Tangail, he graduated from Dhaka University in Bangla in 1970. Kadir began his career as a lecturer of Bangla at Karatia Saadat College in 1972, but quit teaching within four years. Kadir then joined the weekly Bichitra as a sub-editor on July 14, 1976 and emerged as a journalist and poet. He worked for different newspapers in his long career. Kadir also served Bangladesh Press Institute as its director. He has some 80 books on poetry, novels, dramas and articles to his credit. Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep sadness at his death. In separate condolence messages, they prayed for the salvation of his departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to bereaved family members.