Presswatch/Dr Dipu Siddiqui:
The President of Bangabandhu Parishad, Professor Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique, and General Secretary Professor ABM Farooq expressed deep grief over the death of renowned poet Asim Saha.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, the leaders said that Asim Saha, one of the poets of modern Bengali literature, had been a well-wisher of Bangabandhu Parishad since its inception.
He was a strong proponent of Bangabandhu’s ideology. Expressing deep grief over his passing, the leaders stated; “During the governments of General Ershad and Begum Khaleda Zia, Poet Asim Saha was a fervent defender of the spirit of independence, the Liberation War, and non-communalism. His death signifies a significant loss to Bengali nationalist poetry. His contributions to Bengali literature are immense, having freely explored and written across various disciplines. His poems have garnered a wide readership, with their depth and poetic nature elevating readers’ understanding.”
Asim Saha began his writing career at the age of 15, inspired by his father, Professor Akhil Buddha Saha. He authored 30 published books throughout his career.
Saha was honored with the ‘Bangla Academy Literary Award’ in 2011 and the ‘Ekushey Award,’ the second highest national honor, in 2019. His significant contributions to Bengali literature earned him numerous accolades, including the Kabi Alaol Sahitya Award (1993), Mymensingh Sahitya-Sanskriti Forum Award (2009), Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Award (2012), and Kendriya Khelaghar Asar Kabi Award (2013).
In their statement, the Bangabandhu Parishad leaders wished for the eternal peace and rest of Asim Saha’s soul and expressed deep sympathy to his bereaved family members.
Noted poet Asim Saha passed away on Tuesday, June 18, while undergoing medical treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib University in Dhaka.