Language Movement activist journalist Abdul Gafur dies

Language Movement activist and noted journalist Abdul Gafur died of old-age complications at Asgar Ali Hospital in the capital at 2:45pm on Friday. He was 95.

His son Tareque Al Banna confirmed about his death. 

The fearless soldier of the great Language Movement Gafur was born on February 19, 1929 at village Dadupur under Pangsha thana of Greater Faridpur district (now Rajbari district).

He completed his secondary education in 1945 from local Maizuddin Dakhil Madrasa and higher secondary education from Kabi Nazrul Government College in Dhaka in 1947.
 

Later, he was admitted to the Bengali Language and Literature Department of Dhaka University (DU). When the Language Movement started, he took part actively in it. As a result, his study was somewhat affected. However, he did his Master's degree from the Department of Social Welfare of the  same univbersity in 1962.

He served as a teacher at Government Rajendra College in Faridpur from 1963 to 1970, and Abuzar Gifari College in Dhaka from 1972 to 1979. 

Abdul Gafur also served the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh as its publication director. He also worked as Feature Editor at the Daily Inqilab for a long time.

He received Ekushey Padak in 2005.
 
In a message of condolence, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family.

Shafiqur said the contribution of Abdul Gafur to language movement is undeniable. 

Professor Abdul Gafur's name will be written in golden letters in the first row of the vanguards of the language movement, he said.

Despite being a brilliant student, he completely devoted himself to the language movement by skipping the exam just two months before the honors final exam of DU and established 'Bengali Language' in front of international arena, he added.