DHAKA: President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina in separate statements on Saturday expressed their profound shock at the death of eminent lyricist and composer Gobinda Halder.

President’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told banglanews that, in the condolence message, the President said that Gobinda Halder’s songs inspired Bengali nation in liberation war.

Gobinda Halder will be remembered for ever for his unparallel contribution to the war, the statement added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s special assistant Mahbubul Haque said that, in her condolence message, the premier said that Gobinda Halder’s lyrics and compositions that inspired Bengalis during the country’s war of independence will be remembered for ever.

In his death, Bangladesh has lost a real friend, the PM added.

In the messages, the President and Prime Minister prayed for the departed soul and conveyed their sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.

However, Gobinda Halder died at 10:45am (India local time) on Saturday while undergoing treatment at JM Roy Hospital in Maniktala in Kolkata at the age of 85.

He had been suffering from kidney diseases for a long time.

Gobinda Halder was the writer of patriotic songs like 'Mora Ekti Phulke Bachabo Bole Juddho Kori', 'Ek Sagor Rokter Binimoye Banglar Swadhinata Anlo Jara', 'Purbo Digonte Surjo Uthechhe Rokto Lal' and 'Padma Meghna Jamuna Tomar Amar Thikana' that are still immensely popular in Bangladesh.

His patriotic songs, written during Bangladesh war of independence in 1971, have still been inspiring the nation.

Gobinda had also penned nearly 3,500 semi-classical, folk, baul, kirtan, Shyamasangeet and modern Bengali songs before glaucoma claimed his sight and ended his writing spree.

BDST: 1455 HRS, JAN 17, 2015