Veteran journalist and educator Shahed Kamal was honoured with a final farewell at Dhaka University (DU) on Sunday. Colleagues, students and well-wishers gathered at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) to pay their last respects as his body was brought to the campus for the final time.
The day’s proceedings began with a funeral prayer (Janaza) at the Taqwa Mosque in Dhanmondi at approximately 12:00pm, after which his body was taken to the Social Science Faculty premises of the university.
Prominent figures in attendance included DU MCJ professors Golam Rahman, Gitiara Nasreen, Abul Mansur Ahmed, Kaberi Gayen, Mofizur Rahman, and Robaet Ferdous.
They were joined by associate professors Saiful Hoque, Shaonti Haider, and Shabnam Azim, as well as journalist Munni Saha, rights activist Khushi Kabir, and the General Secretary of the DU MCJ Alumni Association, Shahnaz Sharmeen Rinvy.
Floral tributes were offered by DU MCJ, alumni association, Dhoritry Rokkhay Amra (DHORA), and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), among other organisations.
Describing the late educator, Professor Robaet Ferdous said Kamal was a “walking encyclopedia” with vast knowledge spanning politics, philosophy, and sociology.
“His greatest quality was that he always spoke accurately and based on facts,” he said, adding that Kamal’s lifelong tenure as a part-time teacher was a significant achievement for any educator.
Journalist Munni Saha, who considered him her “spiritual father,” said his passing is a profound loss for his former students and the journalism community.
She recalled his sharp intellect and regular habit of reading news, mentioning how he would question the logic behind figures cited in money laundering reports relative to the nation’s total GDP over 54 years. “We often said that where Google fails, Shahed Kamal begins,” she added, describing him as a “living encyclopedia.”
Following the tributes at the MCJ department, his body was moved to the Dhaka University Central Mosque for a second namaz-e-janaza. He was then taken to the National Press Club at 2:30pm for further tributes before being laid to rest at the Azimpur Graveyard at 4pm.
Born into a family deeply rooted in Bangladesh’s cultural and literary history, Shahed Kamal was the son of the legendary poet and activist Sufia Kamal. He carved out his own formidable legacy over a career spanning more than six decades.
Kamal’s illustrious career in journalism began in 1957. He served for many years at the state news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and had been teaching at DU MCJ department since 1976. He was also widely recognised as a trainer for various journalism professional development programmes.
