Editors, Noab condole death of Moazzem
The Editors' Council and the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (Noab) yesterday expressed their heartfelt sorrow and condolences at the demise of AHM Moazzem Hossain, editor and publisher of The Financial Express.
In a condolence message, the Editors' Council said Moazzem was one of the finest journalists of the country who, through his untiring devotion and strict adherence to ethical journalism, made enormous contribution to the growth of professional journalism in the country.
Moazzem, who was suffering from heart and lung complications, died at a city hospital on Wednesday evening. He was 73.
He was one of the earliest exponents of business journalism and can be termed the doyen of economic journalism in the country, the Council said in a statement.
The veteran journalist, who was one of the founding members of the Council, started his career as a reporter at the erstwhile Pakistan Observer, the now-defunct Bangladesh Observer.
He then became special correspondent of the New Nation, economics editor of UNB, executive editor of Dhaka Courier and business editor of The Daily Star.
In the message, the Council said Moazzem's crowning glory was co-founding The Financial Express and turning it to the first successful English language business daily of the country. Due to his untiring zeal and hands-on stewardship of the paper, it grew into a very credible and financially viable business daily in the country.
The examples he set inspired many young journalists to enter the specialised segment of economic journalism which has resulted in the overall development of that sector with every newspaper and television station now having a business segment in their daily coverage, it said.
Moazzem was deeply committed to the fundamental values of ethical journalism towards the growth of which he spared no effort. He was a regular speaker in journalism faculties of different universities and training events.
The statement said a gentleman per excellence and modest to a fault, Moazzem was a man of few words but of immense knowledge of national and international developments in the world of economics. His insightful editorials and in-depth analysis of economic trends always served as a barometer of future tidings.
He will be remembered by the nation and revered by his fellow professionals as an inspiring figure in Bangladeshi journalism, it read.
Moazzem, who completed his MA in economics from Dhaka University in 1968, was the first president of Economic Reporters' Forum in 1992.
In another condolence message, Noab said Moazzem was not only a revered editor of the country's first English financial daily, but also one of the pioneers of the country's business journalism.
When journalism, like other professions, had been gripped by partisan and opportunistic attitude, he continued to do honest and independent journalism and remained above all kind of partisanship, elevating his newspaper to a high standard, Noab said in a statement.
Moazzem, who was also a Noab founding member, played an important role in running the organisation, the statement added.
Noab also extended its sympathy to his bereaved family members.