The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Noted playwright and professor of the Department of Drama and Dramatics Selim Al-Din breathed his last at the city's Lab Aid Cardiac Hospital yesterday. He was 59.

The critically ill playwright was scheduled to be shifted to a hospital in Bangkok by an air ambulance yesterday afternoon for better treatment in Thailand.

Cardiologist Prof APN Sohrabuzzaman and Sanmilito Sangskritik Jote President Nasiruddin Yusuf Bacchu confirmed the death of Selim Al-Din at 2:10pm yesterday.

LabAid media coordinator Mesbah Azad said Selim Al-Din died at 2:10pm at the coronary care unit of the hospital while undergoing treatment there.

The body of Selim Al-Din was taken to the mortuary at BIRDEM from LabAid Cardiac Hospital in the afternoon. His body will be taken to Central Shaheed Minar premises at 10:00am tomorrow (Wednesday) where the body will be kept so that people irrespective of all strata can pay their last respect to him. Later, the body will be taken to the Jahangirnagar University campus where he will be buried near the Shaheed Minar.

Selim Al-Din's condition deteriorated at Lab Aid Cardiac Hospital on Sunday after his admission on Friday night.

Earlier, he was admitted to BIRDEM Hospital at Shahbagh on Friday evening with the complains of chest pain and difficulties in breathing. As his condition was deteriorated, he was shifted to LabAid Cardiac Hospital at Dhanmondi later at night.

Doctors said Selim Al-Din had been suffering from chronic bronchitis, high blood pressure, and kidney problems. Besides, complications in his gallbladder were detected after examination on Friday. He had been fighting for life at the CCU of LabAid Cardiac Hospital over the last four days. He was kept alive through life supports.

Selim Al-Din's vital organs, including kidneys, liver and heart failed yesterday morning.

Receiving the news of Selim Al-Din's death, a pall of gloom descended on the entire cultural arena yesterday.

Born on August 18, 1949 in village Shenerkhil under Sonagazi thana in Feni district, Selim Al-Din's original name was Moinudddin Ahmed. Selim was the founding chairman of the Department of Drama and Dramatics at Jahangirnagar University.

He was also the president of Village Theatre Project under Dhaka Theatre.

One of the finest playwrights the country has ever produced, he wrote Charkankra in 1977, which makes one of the first street plays in Bangladesh. Pioneer of modern Bangla drama, Selim Al-Din also collected the elements of thousand years of Bangla drama

His most important plays include Muntasir Fantasy (1976), Kirton Khola (1980), Keramat Mangal (1984), Chaka (1990), and Jaibati Kanyar Mon (1991).

His other dramas Bashon, Atotaiee, Saiful Muluk Badiuzzaman and Hat Hodai established him as a dramatist extraordinaire.

He produced epic drama 'Nimojjon' at the last stage of his life and had also written a number of TV dramas and serials.

Selim did a PhD in 'Drama in the Middle Age of Bengali Literature' in 1995.

He received Bangla Academy Award in 1984 and other awards from different organisations in Bangladesh.

As a young boy he travelled widely thanks to his father being a civil servant. He was a avid reader from an early age and would finish a new book in one sitting.

He also started writing from early age.

Selim enrolled in Dhaka University in 1966 and got involved with Dhaka Theatre. He made up his mind to become a writer and wrote his first drama in 1968.

It was under his tutelage that the Gram Theatre under Dhaka Theatre started its journey.

The drama he penned in his early days as a playwright included 'Sharpa Bishoyak Golpo,' 'Jaundice O Bibidho Baloon' and 'Mul Samashya.'

Selim was among those who helped dramas flourish after 1971 with innovative ideas, political awareness, skill in form and use of refined language.

The plays of this time were based on the people's movement and the liberation war as well as the erosion in social values and the despair of the masses.

Symbolism and folk heritage were also used in many of the plays. Many foreign plays were translated at this time.

Selim was among those who made the drama movement forceful.

CA condoles Selim Al-Din's death

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday expressed profound shock at the death of playwright Selim Al-Din.

In a condolence letter to Selim Al-Din's wife, Dr Fakhruddin said Selim Al-Din was a bright star in Bangladesh's history of theatre movement. "His death has caused an irreparable loss to the country's literature," he said.

The Chief Adviser prayed salvation of the departed soul and conveyed his deep sympathy to his bereaved family members.

Bangladesh Film Censor Board members and employees yesterday expressed their profound shock at the death of censor board member and professor of the Department of Drama and Dramatics of Jahangirnagar University Dr Selim Al-Din.

In a condolence message, they also recalled the merit, wisdom and significant contributions of Selim Al-Din during the discharging duty at Bangladesh Film Censor Board.

They also prayed for the departed soul and conveyed their deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.