Ataus Samad laid to rest
Friday, 28 September 2012
Journalist Ataus Samad of BBC Bengali fame was buried in his father's grave at Azimpur Graveyard Thursday afternoon, reports bdnews24.com.
Samad died in a city hospital Wednesday. He was 74.
The senior journalist had been suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney problems for a long time.
His family members took his body to his Baridhara residence from Apollo Hospital Thursday morning.
Later, the coffin carrying his body was taken to Gulshan's Azad Mosque where his first namaj-e-janaza (funeral prayer) was held after Zohr prayers.
His second funeral prayer was held at the Jatiya Press Club around 3pm where his former colleagues and a cross section of people paid their last respects.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Finance Minister AMA Muhith and several other top politicians mourned his death.
He had stepped into journalism with Sachitra Sandhani in the 1950s and went on to work with several newspapers, radio and TV stations.
In 1993, the government conferred on him the highest civilian award 'Ekushey Padak'.
He joined then Pakistan Observer in 1959 after completion of post-graduation from Dhaka University. He was the Publicity Secretary of the student union of Fazlul Haque Hall.
He was vocal about journalists' rights and was elected General Secretary of East Pakistan Union of Journalists in 1969.
After independence, he worked with state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) as Special Correspondent in Delhi from 1972 to 1976.
He started working for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as Bangladesh Correspondent from 1982 to the early '90s.
He published weekly Ekhon after leaving the BBC and started writing columns.
He was a regular contributor to the opinion section of bdnews24.com, Bangladesh's first Internet newspaper
He was also a contributor to the Financial Express.
He taught at Dhaka University as a part-time teacher for a long period.
Born on Nov 16, 1937 in Mymensingh, Samad is survived by a son and two daughters. His wife Kamrunnahar is a former Department of Information official.
Samad died in a city hospital Wednesday. He was 74.
The senior journalist had been suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney problems for a long time.
His family members took his body to his Baridhara residence from Apollo Hospital Thursday morning.
Later, the coffin carrying his body was taken to Gulshan's Azad Mosque where his first namaj-e-janaza (funeral prayer) was held after Zohr prayers.
His second funeral prayer was held at the Jatiya Press Club around 3pm where his former colleagues and a cross section of people paid their last respects.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Finance Minister AMA Muhith and several other top politicians mourned his death.
He had stepped into journalism with Sachitra Sandhani in the 1950s and went on to work with several newspapers, radio and TV stations.
In 1993, the government conferred on him the highest civilian award 'Ekushey Padak'.
He joined then Pakistan Observer in 1959 after completion of post-graduation from Dhaka University. He was the Publicity Secretary of the student union of Fazlul Haque Hall.
He was vocal about journalists' rights and was elected General Secretary of East Pakistan Union of Journalists in 1969.
After independence, he worked with state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) as Special Correspondent in Delhi from 1972 to 1976.
He started working for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as Bangladesh Correspondent from 1982 to the early '90s.
He published weekly Ekhon after leaving the BBC and started writing columns.
He was a regular contributor to the opinion section of bdnews24.com, Bangladesh's first Internet newspaper
He was also a contributor to the Financial Express.
He taught at Dhaka University as a part-time teacher for a long period.
Born on Nov 16, 1937 in Mymensingh, Samad is survived by a son and two daughters. His wife Kamrunnahar is a former Department of Information official.