The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Noted playwright, poet and former teacher of the Department of Fine Arts of Chittagong University Zia Haider died of cancer at 7:45am at the City Hospital in the capital yesterday morning. He was 72. He was leading playwright of the country.

The body of Zia Haider was brought at the foot of the Aparajeyo Bangla of Dhaka University at 11:00am for people to pay respect to him. Students and teachers of the Department of Drama and Music of Dhaka University organised this.

Later his (Zia) body was taken to the Bangla Academy where his fellow playwrights and poets paid their last respect.

His namaz-e-zanaja was held at the Central Mosque of Dhaka University after Zohr prayers.

He was taken to his brother's house at Mirpur from where he was taken to his hometown Pabna. He was laid to rest at a graveyard in Pabna yesterday.

He was admitted to the City Hospital on Tuesday night where he was administered chemotherapy, as his condition became critical. Earlier he was initially taken to the Tata Hospital in India in May after the cancer was detected.

Zia Haider, one of the icons of the post-liberation drama movement in the country, was born at Doharpara in Pabna in 1936. He was the eldest of fourteen siblings.

He wrote plays, poetry and analytical books on drama.

His well-known plays are - 'Shuvro,' 'Sundar,' 'Kalyani O ananda,' 'Mukti mukti' and 'Ele bele'.

His poetry volumes include 'Ektarate kanna' and 'Bhalobashar poddyo.'

His other published books are 'Theatre er kotha,' 'Stanislavskir tathya,' 'Epic theatre O anyanna,' 'Bangladesh er theatre O anyanno probandha.'

His books on drama are taught at different universities in the country and Rabindra Bharati University in India.