The Editors' Council has expressed its heartfelt sorrow and condolence at the untimely demise of AHM Moazzem Hossain, editor and publisher of The Financial Express.
In a condolence message, it said Mr Moazzem was one of the finest journalists of the country who, through his untiring devotion and strict adherence to ethical journalism, made enormous contribution to the growth of professional journalism in the country.
The veteran journalist, suffering from heart and lung complications, died at the age of 73 at Square Hospitals on Wednesday evening. He had also been taken to Singapore for treatment.
He was one of the earliest exponents of financial and economic journalism and can be termed the doyen of economic journalism in the country, the Council said in the statement.
Mr Moazzem, who was also one of the Council's founding members, started his career as a reporter at the erstwhile Pakistan Observer, which was renamed the now-defunct Bangladesh Observer in December 1971.
He then moved on to become a special correspondent of the New Nation, the economic editor of UNB, the executive editor of Dhaka Courier and the economic editor of The Daily Star.
In the message, the Council said Mr Moazzem’s crowning glory was co-founding The Financial Express and turning it into the first successful English language economic daily of the country. Due to his untiring zeal and hands-on stewardship of the paper it grew into a very credible and financially viable business daily in the country.
His example inspired many young journalists to enter the specialised segment of economic journalism which has resulted in the overall development of that sector with every newspaper and television station now having a business segment to their daily reportage, it read.
He was deeply committed to the fundamental values of ethical journalism towards the growth of which he spared no effort. He was a regular speaker in journalism faculties of different universities and training events.
Mr Moazzem completed his MA in economics from Dhaka University in 1968.
The statement said a gentleman par excellence and modest to a fault, he was a man of few words but of immense knowledge of national and international developments in the world of economics. His insightful editorials and in-depth analysis of economic trends always served as a barometer of future tidings.
He will be remembered by the nation and revered by his fellow professionals as an inspiring figure in Bangladeshi journalism, it added.
Mr Moazzem was also a founding member of Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) and the first president of Economic Reporters’ Forum in 1992.
