Shawdesh Desk:

Eminent journalist Amit Habib was laid to eternal rest at his family graveyard at Kazir Ber village under Maheshpur upazila in Jhenaidah on Friday night following his fourth namaz-e-janaza.

Amit Habib, the editor of the Bangla daily Desh Rupantor, passed away around 11:00pm on Thursday while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in the capital.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock at the death of the noted journalist. In a condolence message, she prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.

Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan also mourned the death of Amit Habib. He prayed for salvation of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family.

The first namaz-e-janaza of the deceased was held at his workplace daily Desh Rupantor in Banglamotor. Rupayan Group Chairman Liaquat Ali Khan Mukul, Rupayan Group Vice Chairman and Desh Rupantor Publisher Mahir Ali Khan Ratul and Amit Habib’s colleagues paid last respects to him by placing wreaths at his coffin.

Then his mortal remains were taken to Jatiya Press Club where his second namaz-e-janaza was held.

On behalf of Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Director-Public Relations of the ministry Mir Akram Uddin Ahmed
placed a wreath on his coffin and took part in the namaz-e-janaza.

Editors, publishers and journalists of different dailies, TV channels, radio stations and online news portals and journalist leaders and his friends and colleagues attended the janaza there.

Later, his body was taken to his home district in Jhenaidah. His third namaz-e-janaza was held at Jhenaidah Press Club. He was buried at his family graveyard after his fourth namaz-e-janaza at Kazir Ber village in Maheshpur.

Born to Khandker Wahedul Haque and Shamsun Nahar Bakul on October 23 in 1963, Amit Habib was one of the pioneers in introducing modern journalism in Bangladesh.

After completing his study in statistics from then Jagannath College (Jagannath University), he began writing for Bichinta, Purbabhash and Priyo Projonmo and many little magazines.

Amit Habib started journalism through joining Khabar Group of Publications as a reporter-cum sub-editor in 1987. He then joined the weekly Purbabhash as a sub-editor.

Amit Habib’s illustrated career in daily newspapers started in 1991 when he joined Bangla daily Ajker Kagoj as a senior sub-editor before switching to daily Bhorer Kagoj the next year.

He was promoted to joint news editor in the daily. Later, he became the news editor of the Bengali daily.

In 2003, Amit Habib joined the daily Jaijaidin as chief news editor, leading the launch of the newspaper in 2006.

In 2007, he moved to Beijing to work with the China Radio International as an expert. But he left the lucrative job and returned home to work for local newspapers.

Amit Habib joined the Daily Samakal in 2008. He became the executive editor of the daily Kaler Kantho the following year and played an instrumental role in publishing and popularising the daily. In 2013, he became the advisory editor of Kaler Kantho and worked there till joining the daily Desh Rupantor as its editor.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Local Government Minister Tajul Islam, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and Awami League Joint Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif expressed deep shock at the death of Amit Habib.

Jatiya Party Chairman and Deputy Leader of the Opposition GM Quader, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, and different political parties including Ganaforum, Jatiya Party (JP), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Gano Odhikar Parishad, Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), Islami Andolan Bangladesh also expressed shock at his death.

Different journalist organisations, including Jatiya Press Club, Shampadak Parishad, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Dhaka Union of Journalists, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Sub Editors’ Council, Crime Reporters’ Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) and Jhenidah Journalists’ Forum Dhaka also mourned the death of the journalist.

Amit Habib had been undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital since July 25. Earlier, he was admitted to Square Hospital after he had a massive brain stroke on July 21 at his workplace. Later he had been shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of BRB Hospital following deterioration of his condition.