Dhaka: Naturalist and science writer Dwijen Sharma died at a private hospital in Dhaka in the early hours of Friday. He was 88.

The nature lover breathed his last at Square Hospital in Dhaka’s Panthapath area at about 3:50am.

Environmental organisation Tarupallab’s general secretary Mokarram Hossain confirmed Dwijen Sharma’s death to NTV Online on Friday morning. He was suffering from lungs diseases and other old age complications.

Dwijen Sharma’s body will be kept at the hospital’s mortuary till his daughter return home from London. According to his last wish, his body will not be cremated. He will be buried at his village in Barlekha of Sylhet.

He left behind his wife, Dr Devi Sharma, son, Shumitra Sharma, and daughter Sreyashi Sharma.

Dijwen Sharma was admitted to BIRDEM hospital on 23 July. Later, on 29 July, he was shifted to ICU. Later, on 13 September, the nature expert was taken to Square Hospital’s ICU.

The environmentalist was awarded Bangla Academy Award in 1987 and Ekushey Padak in 2015 by the Government of Bangladesh for his contribution in language and literature.

Born in Barlekha upazila of Moulivbazar district in Sylhet, Dijwen Sharma received his bachelor’s degree from City College in Kolkata and master’s degree in Botany from the University of Dhaka.

He served as vice president of Asiatic Society for 3 years. An encyclopedia of the flora and fauna of Bangladesh in 56 volumes was published by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh while he was the president of the publishing committee. He wrote more than 30 books.

One of his famous books is 'Shyamoli Nishorgo' or 'Green Nature'. His other books include 'Samajtontre Bosobas' or 'Living in Socialism', 'Jiboner Shesh Nei' or 'No End To Life', 'Phoolgulo Jeno Kotha or 'Each Flower Is A Word' and 'Biggan Shikkha O Daiboddhotar Nirikh' or 'Science Education and Our Responsibilities'.