Literary figure and organizer Akhtar Hossain passes away

Poet, children's writer, and cultural organizer Akhtar Hossain has passed away. He breathed his last at 12:45 PM today, Thursday, while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital. He had been hospitalized for the past four days.

He was 80 years old. He leaves behind two sons, Pantha Hossain and Promit Hossain, as well as numerous admirers. His wife, Mallika Hossain, predeceased him.

According to his youngest son, Promit Hossain, Akhtar Hossain will be buried beside his wife at their family graveyard in Rahmatganj, Sirajganj, as per his last wish.

Promit Hossain told the press, after a funeral prayer (Janaza) at the Railway Colony Mosque near his residence in Tejkunipara, Dhaka, his body will be kept at the Central Shaheed Minar tomorrow, Friday, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM for people from all walks of life to pay their final respects. Afterward, his body will be taken to Sirajganj."

Akhtar Hossain was born on November 1, 1945. He made extraordinary contributions to the cultural movement of Bangladesh. He was one of the founding members of the Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi.

Kongkon Nag, General Secretary of Udichi (a faction) Dhaka City, said, "Bangla Academy Award-winning rhymester Akhtar Hossain was the author of the party song of Bangladesh Students' Union and a former drama secretary of Udichi."

He also played a vital role in the country's cultural movement as an organizer of the children's organization 'Khelaghar.' The popular organizational anthem of Students' Union and Khelaghar, 'Amra To Sainik, Shantir Sainik' (We are soldiers, soldiers of peace), was penned by him. Akhtar Hossain left a deep imprint on the literary and cultural arena through his rhymes, stories, poems, plays, and songs.