Noted journalist and Director General of the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Shah Alamgir passed away at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on Thursday.
He was 62.
He breathed his last around 10 am at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital, family members confirmed.
Shah Alamgir had been undergoing treatment at the hospital since February 21 with various complications and, later, he was shifted to the ICU on February 22 following deterioration of his condition.
He left behind his father, wife, one son, one daughter, five brothers, four sisters,
and a host of relatives, colleagues and admirers to mourn his death.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Leader of the Opposition HM Ershad expressed their deep shock at the death of the prominent journalist.
Alamgir, a man of chequered journalistic career, entered the profession in his student life through joining the first child-teen weekly Kishore Bangla. He worked as co-editor here from 1980 to 1984.
Then he worked with Dainik Janata, Banglar Bani, Daily Azad and Daily Sangbad. He was involved in Bangla daily Prothom Alo from November 1, 1998, to September 2001 where he served as joint editor.
Then he started working on television media. After that he worked Channel-i as Chief News Editor, Ekushey Television as Head of News, Jamuna Television as Director (News), and Maasranga Television as Head of the news.
Shah Alamgir was a popular leader of journalists in Bangladesh and was elected President and General Secretary of DUJ and Joint Secretary of the BFUJ for several times. He was also the President of Shishu Kalyan Parishad, an umbrella organization of the country's Children's organisations. He was an important organiser of many other socio-cultural organisations.
The government appointed him Director General of PIB in July 2013 and since then he had been serving the high profile journalism research, education and training institute with the status of an Additional Secretary of the government.
In a condolence message, the President expressed deep shock and sorrow at his death saying, "Death of Shah Alamgir is an irreparable loss to the field of journalism."
"His morality and ideals would remain a sample for media workers," he added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message recalled with profound respect Shah Alamgir's contributions to the country's field of journalism, saying his death is an irreparable loss to this field.
She also said Shah Alamgir was always vocal in the struggle for realizing rights of the newsmen alongside pursuing journalism. Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud expressed deep shock and sorrow at his death saying, "We have lost a dedicated media think-tank and columnist. He will live through his work."
In separate condolence messages, Deputy Speaker M Fazley Rabbi Mia and Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Information Ministry Hasanul Haq Inu Information and Secretary Abdul Malek also expressed deep shock at the death of Shah Alamgir.
Cabinet members including Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haque, Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed, State Minister for Shipping and Awami League Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmood Chowdhury, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Convener of Chattagram Hill Tracts Agreement Implementation Committee Abul Hasnat Abdullah expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Shah Alamgir.
Different organisations of Journalists Including Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), National Press Club and Dhaka Reporters Unity, political parties including Bangladesh Awami League, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Ganotantri Party, Socio-cultural organizations including Sammilito Samajik Andolon, Sampriti Bangladesh, Shishu Kalyan Parishad expressed shock at the death of Alamgir.
The first namaz-e-janaza of the prominent journalist held at 1:30 pm in his ancestral home at Goran, the second one at PIB at 2:30, the third one at the Jatiya Press Club at 3:00 pm and the fourth one at 4:30 pm at his residence. Later he was buried at a graveyard in Uttara Sector-12.
Journalists, political leaders and representatives of different organisations paid their last respect to late Shah Alamgir and offered prayers for his departed soul as the body was taken to the National Press Club.
The Daily Observer editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Manabjamin Editor Motiur Rahman Secretary, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim Helal, Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Abul Kalam Azad, Kishore Bangla Editor Mir Mosharref Hossain Pakbir and veteran journalist and writer Rafiqul Huq Dadubhai, among others, took part,in the Janaza.
