Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Oct 10, 2025 (BSS) - Emeritus Professor of English Department of Dhaka University (DU) and eminent educationist Syed Manzoorul Islam today passed away while undergoing treatment at a city hospital at the age of 74. 

"Islam, also fiction writer and essayist, breathed his last around 5:00pm while undergoing treatment at LabAid Hospital in Dhaka," DU English Department Chairman Professor Dr. Tazin Aziz Chaudhury told BSS.

He is survived by his wife, a son, students and a host of well wishers and admirers. 

Prof Islam was admitted to Labaid Hospital on Oct 3 after suffering a heart attack. He underwent several medical tests and later two stents were placed in his heart.

He was put on life support on Sunday evening after his condition became critical.

His body will be brought to the Central Shaheed Minar tomorrow around 11am and will be kept there till 1pm to allow people to have a glimpse of him and pay tributes to the veteran professor and novelist. 

His first Namaz-e-Janaza will be held after Zuhr prayers at the Dhaka University Central Mosque. Later, his body will be taken to Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard where he will be laid to eternal rest following his second Namaj-e-Janaza.

Islam was born on Jan 18, 1951, in Sylhet to Syed Amirul Islam and Rabeya Khatun. He completed his secondary education at Sylhet Government Pilot High School in 1966 and later studied at MC College in Sylhet. 

He did his BA and MA in English at the University of Dhaka before completing his PhD at Queen's University in Canada in 1981. He retired as a professor from the English department and was appointed a professor emeritus in 2023.

Islam was honoured with numerous accolades, including the Ekushey Padak in 2018 and the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1996, in recognition of his contribution to literature.