Former MP, Journalist Shafiqur Rahman dies

Veteran journalist, two-time lawmaker, former National Press Club secretary and president Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman, 77, died at a hospital in the capital on Saturday (October 24) afternoon.

He breathed his last at United Hospital around 2:30PM while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU). According to his family, he suffered a stroke at his Banani residence on Friday and was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.

Rahman was born on September 25, 1949, in Krishnapur village under Balithuba East Union of Faridganj upazila in Chandpur. He began his journalism career in 1970 as a Dhaka University correspondent for the daily Ittefaq and later served the newspaper in various capacities for 32 years before retiring in 2002. He subsequently worked as an independent columnist for national newspapers.

He was elected president of the National Press Club for two consecutive terms, 2016-17 and 2017-18. He also served as chairman and chief editor of private satellite television channel Citizen TV and as an adviser to the Sector Commanders Forum.

Rahman entered politics through the Bangladesh Chhatra League in 1965 and actively participated in the 1969 mass uprising and the Liberation War in 1971. He was elected MP from the Chandpur-4 (Faridganj) constituency in the 2018 and 2024 national elections, representing the constituency from January 3, 2019, to August 6, 2024.

-AH