Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, president of Bangla Academy and an eminent essayist, researcher, literary critic, and social analyst, was laid to rest at the Shaheed Buddhijibi Graveyard in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Monday after thousands of mourners and admirers paid their final respects.
His son-in-law, Anwarul Hasan, confirmed that the burial was completed at around 3:30pm.
The day's farewell began at around 10:30am at the Bangla Academy, where colleagues, students, writers, academics, cultural figures, and members of the public paid tribute. The first namaz-e-janaza was held there before his body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar.
At around 11am, people from all walks of life gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar to pay their respects. Representatives of political, cultural, academic, and social organizations laid floral wreaths in his memory.
Among those paying tribute were Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam, officials and staff of the academy, as well as organizations including Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Pragati Lekhak Sangha, Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir, the State Language Bangla Protection Committee, the Department of Public Libraries, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Copyright Office, Shilpi Kallyan Trust, Bangladesh Open University, the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Gonofront, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Democratic Left Alliance, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD), Bangladesh Socialist Front, Bangladesh Sramik Karmachari Federation, Charan Cultural Centre, Bangladesh Youth Union, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Swadhinata Party, Bangladesh Gorib Mukti Andolon, leaders of the Communist movement, Sonar Bangla Party, and several other political and cultural organizations.
His body was later taken to the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla on the Dhaka University campus for another round of public homage. Heavy rain briefly delayed the ceremony, preventing the coffin from being placed at the designated venue. At around 12:30pm, the Dhaka University administration, various departments, teachers' organizations, the university's vice-chancellor, pro-vice chancellors, treasurer, the Department of Bangla, Teachers' Network, Bangladesh Odhikar Party, Swapnajatra, and several other organizations paid tribute at the main gate of the Faculty of Arts.
Following the tributes, his body was taken to the university's central mosque, where the second namaz-e-janaza was held at around 1:45pm after Zohr prayers before he was laid to rest at the Shaheed Buddhijibi Graveyard.
Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque suffered a heart attack on Sunday afternoon while dining with family members at a restaurant. He was taken to a nearby clinic, where doctors declared him dead. He was 86.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed sorrow over his death. Condolences were also conveyed by former chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), National Citizen Party (NCP), Jatiya Kabita Parishad, and several other political and cultural organizations.
Professor Haque is survived by his wife, Farida Pradhan; his daughter, Professor Suchita Sharmin, vice-chancellor of the University of Barisal; his daughter-in-law, Razia Rahman; and his grandchildren.
His son, Faisal Arefin Dipan, publisher of Jagriti Prokashoni, was killed in an attack by an extremist group at Aziz Super Market in Dhaka on October 31, 2015.