Renowned rhyme writer and Ekushey Padak-winning literary figure Sukumar Barua is no more. He passed away at 6:55am on Friday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chattogram. His daughter, Anjana Barua, confirmed the news.
For the past week, the celebrated writer had been admitted to the hospital due to age-related complications. Doctors were treating fluid accumulation in his lungs, but his condition deteriorated, leading to his death this morning.
Family sources said Sukumar Barua had been battling various health issues since suffering a stroke in 2006, which left his right leg paralyzed. Heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure continued to trouble him over the years. Though he was briefly improving after hospital treatment recently, his condition worsened again Thursday night, and he was rushed to hospital—where he breathed his last.
He was 87. He leaves behind his wife, one son, three daughters, and countless admirers who grew up with his words.
Born on 5 January 1938 in Madyom Binajuri village of Chattogram’s Raozan upazila, Sukumar Barua began his career in the 1960s at Dhaka University as a fourth-class employee. In 1963, renting a small tin-roofed room on Topkhana Road for just six taka, he began writing full-time. Soon his works appeared in Kochi Kanchar Asar, Khelaghar, and Mukuler Mahfil, earning him immense popularity. He retired from Dhaka University as a storekeeper in 1999.
Over six decades, Barua became fondly known as “The King of Rhymes”, enchanting generations with humorous, satirical, moral, and patriotic works reflecting the spirit of the Liberation War. Among his best-loved books are Pagla Ghoda, Vije Beral, Chandana Ronjonar Chhora, Elopatari, Nana Ronger Din, 101 Rhymes of Sukumar Barua, Chiching Fak, Priyo Chhora Shotok, Nodir Khela, and many more.
In recognition of his remarkable contribution to literature, the Government of Bangladesh awarded him the Ekushey Padak in 2017.