Columnist, researcher, essayist, journalist and writer Syed Abul Maqsood is no more (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilahi Raziun). He was 74.
He died at Square Hospital in the capital on Tuesday (February 23) evening. His eldest son Nasif Maqsood has confirmed the matter.
"We rushed him to Square Hospital in the afternoon," he said. There he died.
Syed Abul Maqsood has written various books and articles on politics, society, literature and culture of Bangladesh. He has written research articles on the lives and works of famous writers and politicians. He also practiced poetry. The number of books written by him is over forty. He received the Bangla Academy Award in 1995 for his overall contribution to Bengali literature.
According to family sources, Syed Abul Maqsood was born on 23rd October 1946 in Elachipur village of Shibalaya upazila of Manikganj district. His father Syed Abul Mahmud and mother Saleha Begum. Abul Maqsood got the opportunity to read various local and foreign magazines from his childhood.
Syed Abul Maqsood's career began in 1964 with journalism in the weekly Nabajug edited by M. Anisuzzaman. He used to write columns on various topics including society, politics, literature and culture. He joined national news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) after the merger of BPI with state-owned BSS in mid 1970s.
A left-leaning Maksud quit BSS in 2004 to be a freelancer and began to wear monk-like white robes as a protest following the US invasion of Iraq.
He briefly served as founding Editor of Chattogram based the Dainik Suprobhat Bangladesh.
He left behind one son, a daughter and wife and huge well-wishers to mourn his death.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mourned Syed Maqsood’s death.
AL General Secretary and Minister Obaidul Quader and Opposition Leader Rowshan Ershad also expressed deep sympathy at the sad demise of Syed Maqsood.