Syed Ziaur Rahman turns 85
Veteran journalist and writer Syed Ziaur Rahman turns 85 today. His family members and friends are celebrating his 85th birthday in Washington, USA, where he is living for the last 41 years.
Syed Ziaur Rahman was born on September 24, 1932 in Ghaturi Kazi Bari, Muktagacha, Mymenshingh. His father, late Syed Atiqur Rahman was a renowned social leader in that area. His mother was late Syeda Nurun Nahar Rahman.
Syed Ziaur Rahman began his career as a print journalist in 1951 when he was a college student. In 1955 he joined Dhaka's Daily Millat as an Assistant Editor. Later he worked with various daily and weekly newspaper and journals. He also edited legendary journalist Mohammad Nasiruddin's literacy monthly Saogat and weekly Begum for a long time. In the 1960s, his satirical features and articles in Bangla newspapers and journals were popular among readers of all ages.
Syed Ziaur Rahman joined Voice of America's Bangla Service in Washington in 1976 and worked for 35 years as its Senior Editor. While working in VOA, he interviewed four presidents, four prime ministers, speakers and members of parliament, cabinet ministers, ambassadors, and distinguished personalities in the field of arts and culture and social works in Bangladesh.
In United States, Syed Ziaur Rahman interviewed President Ronald Regan and President George Walker Bush, senators, congressmen, administration officials, university presidents, head of Godard Space Center and Kennedy Library in Boston and other important personalities in various fields. His interview with Nobel laureates Dr. Mohammad Yunus, Dr. Amartya Sen, poet Sufia Kamal, poet Shamsur Rahman, writer Humayun Ahmed, Ghatok-Dalal Nirmul Committee's Head Jahanara Imam, poet Sayeed Atiqullah, writer-educator Dr. Abdullah Al-Muti Sharifuddin among others were 'first' in Voice of America.
Syed Ziaur Rahman also covered UN General Assembly sessions in New York, and international conferences and important events in Washington, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Boston and other places in the United States. During World Hunger Conference in Washington he interviewed UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali for VOA.
Syed Ziaur Rahman was awarded 'Superior Honor Award' and other awards for excellence in journalism. Before his retirement from VOA in 2011 he was awarded the prestigious 'Career Achievement Award' for his valuable contribution to VOA and playing a critical role in bringing VOA broadcasts of the highest quality to worldwide audiences.
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