Dhaka, June 19 -- Ekushey Padak-winning poet Al Mujahidi has died at the age of 86 after a prolonged illness.

He passed away at 11am on Thursday at United Hospital in Gulshan, fellow poet Abdul Hye Shikdar said.

His son Shabib Al Mujahidi said his father had been taken to hospital on Wednesday, suffering two cardiac arrests.

"He had blood infection, kidney failure, heart failure -- all at once," he told bdnews24.com.

"Around 1pm he had another cardiac arrest. Shock therapy was given but he could not be saved in the end."

Family members said he had been suffering from heart disease, stroke and kidney complications for the past year, requiring repeated hospital stays.

He was admitted to a private hospital from Apr 23 to May 26 with he...