Ekushey Padak-winning poet, freedom fighter, and long-time literary editor of The Daily Ittefaq Al Mujahidi laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur on Saturday.

People from all walks of life paid their last respects at a mourning ceremony held at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.

The memorial programme was organised by the Jatiyatabadi Writers’ Forum. The poet’s body was brought to the Central Shaheed Minar, where a police contingent led by an executive magistrate from the Dhaka District Administration accorded him state honors.

Following the ceremony, numerous socio-cultural organisations, institutions, and individuals paid their respects by placing wreaths on his coffin.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, poet Abdul Hye Sikder, Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam, Shahin Reza, Tapan Bagchi, Raju Alim, and Abid Azam, among others, paid tribute to the late poet.

Later, his body was brought to the Jatiya Press Club at 12:00 pm for his third namaz-e-janaza. Following a final funeral prayer at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, he was laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur.

Poet Al Mujahidi was born in January 1943 in Tangail. Over his illustrious career, he published more than 50 books, including over 20 poetry collections. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Bengali language and literature, the government awarded him the prestigious Ekushey Padak in 2003.

Al Mujahidi passed away at a hospital in Dhaka on Friday at the age of 86.