Four eminent journalists of the country have died in a span of only five days, dealing a big blow to the media industry.
Muhammad Jahangir, a noted media personality and executive director of Centre for Development Communication, passed away at a city hospital early Wednesday at the age of 68, reports UNB.
Jahangir, a journalist and younger brother of Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, was suffering from cancer. He was admitted to Asgar Ali Hospital where he breathed his last.
Jahangir was the editor of monthly Binodan, a magazine for the adolescents being published since February 1998.
He was also a teacher of Journalism department at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). He also worked as a part-time teacher at the University of Development Alternative (UODA).
Jahangir joined The Daily Dainik Bangla as its university correspondent in 1970 and was promoted to staff reporter two years later. He later joined the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB).
Jahangir was a former Dhaka Correspondent of Daily 'Aajkaal' of Kolkata. He was also a member Bangla Academy, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Jatiya Press Club and Rotary Club, among others.
Senior journalists Hasan Arefin and Akhteruzzaman Lablu died at separate hospitals in Dhaka on Monday.
Lablu, chief reporter of Bhorer Kagoj and former president of Crime Reporters' Association of Bangladesh (CRAB), breathed his last at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) at the age of 52.
He had long been suffering from liver problem.
Hasan Arefin, managing editor of the Daily Natun Kagoj and an executive committee member of the Jatiya Press Club, died of cardiac arrest on the day at the age of 60.
He was the founding president of Dhaka-based Patuakhali Journalists' Forum (PJF) and former organising secretary of the DRU.
Veteran sports journalist and sports editor of Dainik Sangbad Ajay Barua died at a London hospital on Friday morning. He was 71.
Family sources said Ajay was hospitalised with cold-related complications two weeks ago while covering the ICC Cricket World Cup.
He was shifted to the intensive care unit two days before his death after his condition deteriorated.
Ajay Barua, also a freedom fighter, was a member of the Jatiya Press Club, Dhaka Reporters' Unity, Bangladesh Sports Journalist Forum and Chattogram Journalist Forum, among others.
He started his career in 1974 as a sports reporter for The Dainik Sangbad.
Ajay Barua was born on September 1, 1947 in Hathazari upazila of Chattogram.
