Journo Sirajur Rahman dies

ANM Sirajur Rahman, an eminent journalist and former deputy chief of BBC Bangla Service, passed away at a London hospital yesterday. He was 81.

His wife Sofia Rahman confirmed the news of his death, reports BBC Bangla Service.

He had been suffering from lung disease for a long time and died at Royal Free Hospital at 11:00am (London time).

Born in 1934 in Noakhali, Rahman worked for the Daily Azad, the Daily Nabajug and the Weekly Millat before joining the BBC World Service in 1960.

He became a legend in Bangladesh for his contributions to the programmes broadcast on BBC Bangla radio during the Liberation War.

Rahman used to write for different newspapers regularly after his retirement from BBC Bangla Service in 1994. His son and a daughter had died earlier.

The veteran journalist's contributions have been recognised on several occasions. He was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2002.

Dipankar Ghosh, a long-time colleague of Rahman, told BBC Bangla Service that he was involved in journalism since childhood. He worked on both sides of Bengal and gained popularity.