obituary
Eminent writer and cultural personality Ali Imam passes away
Renowned writer, television anchor and cultural personality Ali Imam passed away on Monday at the age of 72.
He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital in Dhanmondi in the evening, according to his son Tanvir Imam. He was suffering from various complications including pneumonia.
Born in December 31, 1950 in Brahmanbaria, Ali Imam is credited with more than 600 publications.
Read: Ex-state minister Shah Muhammad Abul Hussain passes away
He also served as the general manager of Bangladesh Television (BTV).
He was the General Manager of Bangladesh Television (BTV) from 2004-2006 and the now-defunct Channel One (2007-2008) before serving as the CEO of several satellite TV channels at the end of his career.
However, Imam was best known as the anchor of "Hello Apnake Bolchhi" at BTV, regarded as the first live show of the country.
He was also the producer of Bangladesh Television's famous documentary educational program 'Dekha Hoy Nai Chokkhu Melia' (1980-1987).
Read: Ekushey Padak winner dance maestro Golam Mostofa dies at 82
From 1998 to 2004, he was the director of UNICEF's 'Mother and Child Development Communication Program' for 7 years.
He received the Bangla Academy Award for his child literature in 2001.
Ex-state minister Shah Muhammad Abul Hussain passes away
Shah Muhammad Abul Hussain, former state minister for Finance and Planning and BNP leader, died at a hospital on Monday. He was 85.
Abul Hussain, also a former vice-president of Barishal North unit BNP, breathed his last at Evercare Hospital at 11 am, said BNP’s media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
Read more: Ekushey Padak winner dance maestro Golam Mostofa dies at 82
The BNP leader was survived by his wife, one son, a daughter and grandchildren to mourn his death.
He will be buried at Banani Graveyard following a namaz-e-janaza at Gulshan Azad Mosque after Maghrib prayer.
DCAB shocked over death of journalist Jhumur's mother
The Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) has expressed deep shock at the death of Sufia Khatun, mother of DCAB member and Ekattor TV special correspondent Jhumur Bari.
In a condolence message on Friday, DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin conveyed deep sympathy to Jhumur Bari and her family members.
They prayed for the salvation of the departed soul.
Read: President mourns demise of his press secy's brother
Sufia Khatun, 65, breathed her last at around 11:30pm on Thursday at her Chuadanga residence due to old age complications.
She left behind two daughters and a son, a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn her death.
Sufia Khatun was buried on Friday at her family graveyard in Chuadanga.
Journalist Jhumur lost her father too recently.
FM mourns Square Group founder’s wife Anita Chowdhury’s death
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Anita Chowdhury, wife of the late founder chairman of Square Group Samson H Chowdhury.
In a condolence message on Monday, the Foreign Minister said ‘Square Mata’ Anita Chowdhury has not only contributed to the success of the Square Group she set an example in the country's industrial and commercial expansion.
Besides, she was very generous and sincere in helping the poor and helpless people of the country, Momen said.
The Foreign Minister prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Read more: Square Group founder’s wife Anita Chowdhury no more Square Group founder’s wife Anita Chowdhury no more
Anita Chowdhury passed away on Sunday while under treatment at Square Hospital in the capital.
Anita Chowdhury was a philanthropist and widely known as ‘Square Mata.’
Anita is the mother of Samuel S Chowdhury, chairman of Square Group, Square Pharmaceuticals Vice Chairman Ratna Patra and Managing Director Tapan Chowdhury, and Anjan Chowdhury, managing director of Square Toiletries.
Ekushey Padak winner dance maestro Golam Mostofa dies at 82
Ekushey Padak winner choreographer and dance maestro Golam Mostofa Khan died Sunday night at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka at 82.
A prominent dance artist in Bangladesh after the independence of the nation, Khan passed away after suffering from pneumonia and health problems from old age, according to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. He was admitted to the hospital on October 28.
Aside from his successful career as a dance pioneer in Bangladesh, Khan established his dance institution Benika Lalitakala Kendra in 1980.
READ: Square Group founder’s wife Anita Chowdhury no more
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid expressed shock and deep grief at the death of the dance icon.
Khalid also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extended his heartfelt sympathy to Khan and his family.
Golam Mostafa Khan had contributed significantly to the development of dance in Bangladesh through the creation of the Benuka Lalitkala Kendra, he said.
Read: Singer Akbar Ali no more
Khan received Ekushey Padak in 2020, Shilpakala Academy Medal in 2016. Apart from these achievements, he received several important awards for his special contribution to dance, while many of his disciples established themselves as successful dancers at home and abroad.
"Benukar Sur," "Tin Surey Gantha," and "Roktolal Ohongkar'' are some of his popular theatrical dance creations.
Khan is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Square Group founder’s wife Anita Chowdhury no more
Anita Chowdhury, wife of the late founder chairman of Square Group Samson H Chowdhury passed away on Sunday.
She breathed her last at the age of 90 at around 1:30 pm while under treatment at Square Hospital in the capital.
Anita Chowdhury was a philanthropist and widely known as ‘Square Mata.’
Anita is the mother of Samuel S Chowdhury, chairman of Square Group, Square Pharmaceuticals Vice Chairman Ratna Patra and Managing Director Tapan Chowdhury, and Anjan Chowdhury, managing director of Square Toiletries.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Anita Chowdhury and prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Read: Eminent painter Samarjit Roy Chowdhury passes away
Anita Chowdhury is survived by her four children, grandchildren and a number of connoisseurs.
“The example she set in directing such an enormous group with motherly love is unmatchable,” said Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud in his condolence message.
He prayed for the peace to be granted upon her departed soul.
Deputy Speaker Shamsul Hoque Tuku expressed deep sorrow over her demise and expressed condolences to the family.
Singer Akbar Ali no more
Popular singer Akbar Ali passed away while undergoing treatment at Dhaka’s BIRDEM hospital on Sunday.
He breathed his last at the age of 54 and left behind wife and daughter.
His widow Kanij Fatema told UNB that Akbar died around 3pm.
However, his daughter Athoi uploaded a post saying "Abbu is no more" on her father’s Facebook page earlier.
Read more: PM condoles death of actor Masum Aziz
Akbar had been suffering from several complicated diseases including kidney and diabetes. He had to have his legs amputated due to physical complications.
The singer was kept at the ICU for a few days due to critical condition following an operation.
Akbar Ali earned huge popularity for his song ‘Tomar Haat Pakhar Batashe’, aired in the show ‘Ityadi’.
Read more: Veteran journalist Toab Khan dies at 87
He was absent from the music industry after he fell sick.
Former state minister Jafrul Islam dies in Chattogram
Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, former state minister for environment and forest and ex-president of Chattogram south district BNP, died on Tuesday at a hospital in the port city. He was 72.
Chowdhury, who had long been suffering from kidney and some other diseases, breathed his last around 2:15pm at Evercare Hospital, said Chattogram South District BNP convener Abu Sufian.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
Read more: BNP chairperson’s advisor Sabih Uddin dies
Chowdhury’s first Namaz-e-janaza will be held at Jamiatul Falah Mosque in the city at 10am on Wednesday.
He will be buried in his family graveyard after the second janaza in Banskhali Adarsha High School field at 2pm and the third one in Banskhali Degree College field at 3 pm.
Born on October 14, 1950, in Banskhali Upazila of Chittagong, Chowdhury completed his graduation in commerce. He was the President of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the 1996-97 tenure.
Read more: Journalist Raihan M Chowdhury dies
He was elected MP from Chattogram-15 seat and served as the state minister for forest and environment during the BNP’s government from 2001-2006.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury expressed deep concern over Jafrul Islam’s death.
In separate messages, they also prayed for the salvation of the departed soul of Chowdhury and conveyed their sympathy to the bereaved family members.
BNP chairperson’s advisor Sabih Uddin dies
BNP Chairperson's advisory council member and former secretary Sabih Uddin Ahmed died on Monday at a hospital in the capital. He was 76.
Sabih Uddin, who had been undergoing treatment at United Hospital after suffering a brain stroke, breathed his last at around 7:35am, BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.
He is survived by his wife, one son, one daughter and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
Hearing the news of his demise, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir rushed to Sabih Uddin’s Gulshan residence from Uttara. He talked to the bereaved family members and convoyed his sympathy to them.
Fakhrul and Sabih Uddin Ahmed were students of the same batch of Economics Department at Dhaka University and they were close friends in personal life.
Read: BNP Vice-Chairman Shah Moazzem Hossain passes away
Completing his education, Sabih Uddin Ahmed joined the Pakistan Civil Service. After the independence of Bangladesh, he served as the information officer of different ministers.
He served as the private secretary to then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in 1991. Later he returned to the information cadre.
In 2001, Sabih Uddin Ahmed joined the Ministry of Environment and Forests as Secretary. Later he was appointed as Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK.
After retiring as a secretary, Sabih Uddin Ahmed actively joined BNP politics and was appointed as a foreign affairs advisor of the party chairperson.
He became inactive in politics from 2017 as he had been suffering from neurological complications.
Journalist Raihan M Chowdhury dies
Raihan M Chowdhury, Senior News Consultant at The Financial Express (FE), died at a city hospital on Saturday. He was 57.
Raihan, who had been suffering from liver cirrhosis, breathed his last at Islami Bank Central Hospital around 2 pm on Saturday, his colleagues said.
He left behind his wife, two sons and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
He had been working for FE since 1996. During his tenure, he also worked as the newspaper’s Senior Business Editor.
Raihan M Chowdhury, Senior News Consultant at The Financial Express (FE), died at a city hospital on Saturday. He was 57.
Raihan, who had been suffering from liver cirrhosis, breathed his last at Islami Bank Central Hospital around 2 pm on Saturday, his colleagues said.
He left behind his wife, two sons and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
He had been working for FE since 1996. During his tenure, he also worked as the newspaper’s Senior Business Editor.
His first namaz-e-janaza was held on the premises of the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity at 4:30pm while the second on the premises of the National Press Club at 5:00pm, the third was at Shantinagar Jame Masjid and fourth was at Hazi Para Jame Masjid.
He was buried in the Shahjahanpur cemetery.
Raihan M Chowdhury was associated with various journalist organizations including Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), National Press Club, and Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) till his death.
Read: Veteran journalist Toab Khan dies at 87