MT Desk: Bangla Academy President Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan died of coronavirus (COVID-19) while undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) this afternoon at the age of 81.

BanglaAcademy director general Habibullah Siraji confirmed the matter today.

Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan was infected with COVID-19 on April 8. Later, he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of BSMMU as his condition deteriorated.

Shamsuzzaman Khan, also known as a Bangladeshi academician, folklorist and writer, left behind his wife, three daughters and a host of relatives and well wishers to mourn his death.

He was born on December 29, 1940 in Manikganj district. He began his career as a teacher. He taught at MunshiganjHorgangaCollege in Munshiganj, JagannathCollege in Dhaka and BangladeshAgriculturalUniversity.

He is renowned for editing a book series on folk culture of 64 different districts in 64 volumes, and collections of folklore series in 114 volumes.

Khan’s father M R Khan was a translator at the government house of Calcutta.

Khan completed his honours and master’s degrees from DhakaUniversity in 1963 and 1964 respectively and joined MunshiganjHaragangaCollege as a lecturer in the department of Bangla in 1964. In the same year he joined JagannathCollege as an assistant Professor.

He got Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2001, Ekushey Padak in 2009, and Independence Day Award in 2017.

He was also the director general of BangladeshNationalMuseum and BangladeshShilpakalaAcademy.

Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan was also appointed as ‘Bangabandhu Chair’ Professor at Islamic University and was nominated as a syndicate member of DhakaUniversity.

Family sources said Shamsuzzaman Khan will be buried in his mother’s grave in Manikganj.