Today is the 68th birthday of Bangladeshi poet Helal Hafiz. He was born in Netrokona, Bangladesh on October 7, 1948.He was among those Bengali poets who were outspoken in their writing on such subjects such as the events of the nationalist movement, political and economical repression, and the struggle against the West Pakistani government which eventually saw the 1971 emergence of independent Bangladesh.Helal Hafiz started his career as a journalist. Hafiz earned the repute of being an established poet of verve, vigour and emptiness long ahead of the publication of his first collection of poems: Je Jale Agun Jwale (The water where fire is ignited) in 1986.It earned the best sellers status in Ekushey Book Fair of the year, discarding novels by popular writers who traditionally occupy the position in Bangladesh’s biggest annual book fair.Helal Hafiz received Bangla Academy Award in 2014.