Veteran journalist, former lawmaker, freedom fighter and former National Press Club president Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman died while undergoing treatment at United Hospital in the capital on Saturday. He was 77.
He breathed his last around 2:30 pm, Dhaka Union of Journalists President Sajjad Alam Khan Topu confirmed.
According to family sources, Rahman suffered a sudden stroke at his Banani residence on Friday and was rushed to United Hospital in critical condition.
He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), where he died the following afternoon.
Born on 25 September 1949 into the Miazi family of Krishnapur village in Balithuba East Union under Faridganj upazila of Chandpur, Rahman was the son of Moulvi Abdul Hamid and Ayesha Khatun.
He obtained a Kamil degree in Hadith from Faridganj Alia Madrasa in 1965 before completing his higher secondary education at Chandpur Government College in 1967.
He later graduated in Bengali language and literature from the University of Dhaka in 1970 and completed his master’s degree in 1971. He also earned a PhD from Harvard University in the United States.
Involved in politics and social movements since his student days, Rahman entered politics through the Bangladesh Chhatra League, now banned, in 1965.
He actively participated in the 1969 mass uprising and the Liberation War of 1971.
Shafiqur began his journalism career in 1970 as the Dhaka University correspondent of the daily Ittefaq while studying at the university.
After independence, he joined the newspaper and served in various positions for 32 years before retiring in 2002.
He subsequently became known for his regular columns in several national dailies as an independent columnist.
Rahman also pursued advanced journalism training in Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom.
He was elected president of the National Press Club for two consecutive terms, 2016–17 and 2017–18.
He also served as chairman and editor-in-chief of private satellite television channel Citizen TV and as an adviser to the Sector Commanders Forum.
Rahman is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter and numerous colleagues and well-wishers.
