Veteran journalist and educator Shahed Kamal passed away on Saturday at a hospital in the capital. He was 86.
Kamal, son of renowned poet Sufia Kamal and former news editor of national news agency BSS, breathed his last at around 7:30PM at Sikder Medical College Hospital while undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the facility, family sources said.
He was admitted to the ICU on Saturday morning with pneumonia and diarrhea, just 20 days ahead of his 86th birthday on July 24.
According to family members, Shahed Kamal's body will be kept at "Sanjher Maya" residence in Dhanmondi to allow relatives, friends and well-wishers to have a last glimpse of him and pay their tributes.
Her sister rights activist Sultana Kamal, currently staying abroad, said his namaz-e-janaza would be held after Zuhr prayers on Sunday at Taqwa Mosque in Dhanmondi.
Admirers, colleagues, relatives and well-wishers will be able to pay their last respects to Shahed Kamal from 9AM to 10:45AM at "Sanjher Maya", his Dhanmondi residence.
The first namaz-e-janaza will be held at 11AM at Taqwa Mosque. The body will then be taken to Dhaka University’s Mass Communication and Journalism department premises at 12:00 noon, where teachers, students, alumni and admirers will have an opportunity to pay their tributes.
A second namaz-e-janaza will be held at the university's Central Mosque after Zuhr prayers. Later, the body will be taken to the National Press Club at 2:30PM to allow journalists and well-wishers to pay their final respects before he is laid to rest at Azimpur Graveyard at 4PM beside the grave of his mother, renowned poet Sufia Kamal.
Shahed Kamal made his debut in journalism career in 1957 and served in the then Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and continued his job as it was renamed and restructured as Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) as the country’s national news agency.
After the independence, he simultaneously joined as an adjunct teacher of the journalism department of the premier Dhaka University, from where he had secured his masters degree in journalism as well.
Ahead of obtaining his master’s degree he received his bachelor’s degree from the university after his studies in Notre Dame College.
A confirmed bachelor, Kamal, was active in Bangladesh’s scouting movement and known for his acumen in classical music, fine arts, literature and political and social history.
During his decades’ long career both as a journalist and journalism teacher he taught a number of journalists who subsequently earned prominence in the profession.
His death has cast a pall of gloom over the country's journalism and academic communities, with colleagues, former students and admirers remembering him for his professionalism, integrity and lifelong dedication to journalism and education.
Kamal was the eldest among his currently surviving two sisters and a brother.
Sultana Kamal said they were six brothers and three sisters while the others passed away at different times.
