Musa's death mourned

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, expressed deep condolence at the death of veteran journalist ABM Musa yesterday.
Recalling the colourful life of Musa, the president termed him a glittering star of the country's journalism profession, reports UNB.
He said the invaluable contributions of ABM Musa to the development of journalism would be remembered. “His death is an irreparable loss to the country's media.”
In her message, Hasina said Musa was a witness to many historical events in his long journalism career; he would ever be remembered for his contributions to the profession.   
She prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed her sympathy to the bereaved family.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus issued condolence messages, expressing their shock at Musa's death.
His first namaz-e-janaza was held in a playground on Iqbal Road at Mohammadpur after Maghrib prayers. The body was then taken to Labaid Hospital mortuary.
The journalist's son Dr Nasim Musa told The Daily Star that his father's body would be taken to the Jatiya Press Club around 11:30am for a wake, after which a second janaza would be held there.
The body would be taken to their village home at Kutubpur under Fulgazi upazila in Feni, Nasim said, adding that his father would be buried at the family graveyard after the last janaza there.
Born on February 28, 1931, Musa contributed to different areas of journalism during his 64-year career. He was the founder member of the Jatiya Press Club. The 83-year-old passed away yesterday at a hospital in the capital.
Musa started off as a journalist with the Insaf in 1950 before moving to the Pakistan Observer the same year. He worked there as a reporter, and later news editor till 1971.
Different political parties, renowned personalities and organisations also mourned his death.
In her message, Khaleda said Musa was always vocal against corruption, bad governance and injustice.
She also visited the journalist's residence in the capital's Mohammadpur around 8:00pm to comfort the bereaved family.   
Prof Yunus said the nation lost a guardian. “ABM Musa was not only a journalist, but a symbol of truth, justice and ideal,” he said in a message.
Workers' Party of Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Gonoforum, Jatiya Gonotantrik League, Jatiya Press Club, both factions of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Bangladesh Crime Reporters' Association, Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh National Human Rights Association, and Bangladesh Manobadhikar Samonnoy Parishad issued separate messages, mourning the death of the veteran journalist.