Urdu Academy condoles Qasmi's death

Bhopal, July 11 (UNI) Noted Urdu poet and Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy Chairman Dr Bashir Badr today condoled the death of Pakistani scholar and Urdu writer Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, who died in Lahore yesterday at the age of 88.

The Academy held a condolence meeting here today to mourn the death and paid tributes to the progressive Urdu writer.

In his condolence message, Dr Badr said he had lost a personal friend in the death of Mr Qasmi, who stood for universal brotherhood.

Recalling his relations with Mr Qasmi, Dr Badr said Mr Qasmi, who presided over the ''Mushaira'' held at Dubai in 1999, had announced the 'Best Urdu Poet'' award on him. The Sheikhs of Dubai, Sharjah and Qatar jointly presented the award to Dr Badr in 2000.

The ''Mushaira'' organisers also published a 300-page souvenir on the life and work of Dr Badr in his honour during the award presentation.

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