Playwright Zia Haider dead

Playwright, poet and former teacher of Chittagong University Zia Haider died of cancer at City Hospital Tuesday morning. He was 72, his younger brother said. brMy brother died at around 745 am, Zahid Haider told bdnews24.com. brHe would be laid to rest at a graveyard in his hometown Pabna Tuesday, Zahid said. brColleagues, friends and students were overwhelmed with grief at the death of one of the leading experimental playwrights of his day. brThe body was brought to the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla of Dhaka University (DU) around 11 am for people to pay their last respects. brLater it was taken to Bangla Academy premises where his fellow playwrights and poets paid their last tributes. brHis namaz-e-zanaja was held at the DU Central Mosque after Zohr prayers.