The namaz-e-janaza of veteran media personality Toufique Imrose Khalidi, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of bdnews24, was held at the Brick Lane Jamme Masjid in East London.
The funeral prayer took place on Thursday (October 8) following the Zuhr namaz. His family announced that his body will be flown to Bangladesh on Friday, with a second janaza scheduled in Banani, Dhaka, on Saturday (October 10) prior to burial.
Khalidi passed away on October 2 at a hospital in London at the age of 59 while undergoing treatment.
The janaza drew a large gathering of British-Bangladeshi journalists, politicians, cultural activists, and family members.
Speaking after the service, Commonwealth Journalists Association Vice President Syed Nahas Pasha paid tribute to the late editor, highlighting his contributions to digital journalism in Bangladesh. Pasha noted that Khalidi, who was a devout individual, had carried his own shroud cloth (Kafan)—purchased during his Holy Hajj pilgrimage—on his trip to London, which was used for his final rites.
Journalist organizations, including the UK Bangla Reporters Unity, expressed deep condolences over his passing.
Raj Khalidi, son of the late editor, confirmed that he will accompany his father's body to Dhaka on Friday afternoon. Following the second janaza at Banani on Saturday, Khalidi will be laid to rest at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard.
-SA