Ekushey Padak winning eminent poet Quazi Rosy passed away early Sunday after failing her battle with COVID-19. She was 73. She was taken to Square Hospital in the capital on January 30 and was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the following day, according to her daughter Sumi Sikandar. The poet had been suffering from multi-organ disease, kidney complications and was put on life support on January 31. She tested positive for COVID-19 in between the time and was taken to the isolation unit of the ICU. Rosy was born on January 1, 1949 in Satkhira. She completed her BA and MA in Bengali Literature from the University of Dhaka. She then started her career by joining the government service and retired as an officer from the Press Information Department (PID) in 2007.  She was elected as a Member of Parliament in the reserved women's seat at the 10th parliamentary election in 2014. A valiant freedom fighter and forever advocate against the genocide of 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, Rosy testified as the 4th witness against convicted war criminal and former Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla in 2013 at at International Crimes Tribunal. READ: Iconic Bengali Singer Sandhya Mukherjee Dies At 90 Rosy's illustrated literary career began after she started writing poetry in the 1960s. "Pathghat Manusher Naam," "Noshto Jowar," "Amar Piran-er Kono Maap Nei," "Lorai," "Martyr Poet Meherun Nesa" (Biography Book), Rabindranath: Poetry of Humor (Research Book) are some of her major literary publications. For her contributions in the field of Bangladeshi poetry and literature, Quazi Rosy was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian honor in Bangladesh in 2021. She also received the Bangla Academy Literary Award (2016), Anannya Literary Award (2013) and many other significant literary awards in her glorious career. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Quazi Rosy.  

Farhad Rahman Makki, an Awami League leader and father of Barrister Shah Ali Farhad, Prime Minister's Special Assistant, has passed away. Farhad Rahman, a former government employee, who later played the role of a member of Sarail Upazila AL, breathed his last at 5:00 pm while undergoing  treatment for cancer at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Shyamoli, Dhaka. "Last year uncle (Farhad Rahman Makki) was diagnosed with lung cancer after recovering from Coronavirus. Though there was no symptom, his entire body was getting affected with cancer due to Covid-19," said Tonmoy Ahmed, a coordinator of CRI and a former colleague of barrister Farhad.  READ: Major General (Retd) Mohaiemen - surgeon, teacher, patriot passes away "Following the 2001-election, the BNP-led government awarded him forced retirement from his government job as a deputy secretary. He was reinstated in his position in 2009 after Awami League formed the government." READ: Cumilla-7 MP Prof Ali Ashraf passes away He left behind three sons and a daughter to mourn his death.His Namaz e Janaza will be arranged at Sarail Annada School, Brahmanbria after Johr prayers on Wednesday.

Golam Mustafa, the winner of Ekushe Padak 2018 and Shilpakala Padak 2016, died at his residence on Friday. He was 81. He left behind wife, one son, one daughter, two grandchildren and three sisters, and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.  He will be laid to rest at the Azimpur Graveyard (new).  READ: Eminent lyricist Fazal-e-Khuda dies of Covid-19 Mustafa, one of the frontline photographers during the inception of Bangladesh Television (BTV) back in 1964, had been serving as its Director of Photography and guest lecturer at the Architectural Department of North South University. In its early days, BTV started its journey with just three newly-groomed photographers and Mustafa was one of them to take up the challenge.  He served BTV for 30 years and with his retirement he left behind a network well facilitated enough to accommodate 42 cameramen.  READ: Veteran journo Shahbuddin departs

Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Sirajee passed away on Monday at a city hospital in the capital. He was 72. The Ekushey Padak-winning poet was on life support at the Bangladesh Specialized Hospital since April 27 due to stomach-related complications. He passed away at 11pm, Bangla Academy Secretary and acting Director General AHM Lokman told UNB. Sirajee was hospitalised on April 25 and shifted to the ICU due to severe complication in his intestine and the digestive system. A medical board was formed for his treatment. The poet had undergone an operation on April 27. He had other health complications including peptic ulcer. Lokman said the body of Sirajee will be taken from his Dhanmondi residence to the Bangla Academy at 10am for everyone to pay their last respect. His first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Bangla Academy. He will be laid to rest at Azimpur graveyard after his second namaz-e-janaza there.  Read:  Bangla Academy DG Sirajee on life support Poet Sirajee took charge as the director general of Bangla Academy on December 20, 2018.  Born on December 31, 1948 in Faridpur, the poet studied at the country’s apex engineering university BUET. One of the founders and former president of Jatiya Kabita Parishad (National Poetry Council), Sirajee was conferred with the Ekushey Padak in 2016 and Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1991 for his contribution to poetry.

Note singer Jane Alam died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital on Tuesday night at the age of 65.