Dhaka: Versatile writer Syed Shamsul Haque passed away at a hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday evening. He was 81.

Haque, who had long been fighting with deadly lung cancer, breathed his last at United Hospital at about 5:26am, hospital sources said.

He left behind his wife Anwara Syed Haque, son Ditio Syed-Haque, daughter Bidita Sadi and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

On 15 April, the writer went to London for treatment at Royal Marsden Hospital, and returned home on 2 September as doctors there found no hope for his cure of cancer.

On return home, he had been undergoing treatment at United Hospital.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock at his demise.

In separate messages of condolence, they prayed for salvation of the departed soul and conveyed their deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Born on 27 December 1935 at Kurigram, Haque has become one of the country’s leading poets and playwrights and earned the title of wield equal mastery over essays, novel, poetry, and plays.

He received the Bangla Academy Award in 1966, Ekushey Padak in 1984, and Swadhinata Padak in 2000 for his contributions to Bengali literature.

His literary works were included in the curricula of school, secondary, higher secondary and graduation levels Bengali literature in Bangladesh.