The shock arrived quietly on Wednesday morning, carried on a familiar Facebook photocard that felt impossibly unreal: “Journalist Nahid Riyasad passes away.” The smiling photograph seemed almost defiant against the words. I paused, checked again, hoping it was a mistake. It was not.
The confirmation came swiftly through our newsroom, through social media, through the collective heartbreak of colleagues and friends. TIMES of Bangladesh lost its National Desk in charge. We lost a trusted professional, a guiding hand and a warm-hearted friend. Nahid Riyasad Bhai was only 38.
“He was completely fine until midnight,” his wife, Nasrin Humayra, recalled, her voice breaking. “Even on December 16, his last working day, he carried out his responsibilities with his usual enthusiasm. Around 2:13 am, he woke me, saying his hand muscles felt numb. Within minutes, he became unresponsive. We rushed him to Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhanmondi, where doctors declared him dead.”
Nahid Riyasad was a communications and media professional with strong command over reporting, editing, fact checking, translation and content development. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh between 2011 and 2014 and completed his Master’s in English Literature and Cultural Studies from the same university in 2017. Fluent in Bangla and English and conversational in French, he also achieved an outstanding IELTS score of 8.0.
His career began in 2012 at Newsnextbd.com. In 2017, he joined New Age, where his editorial discipline, investigative rigour, and commitment to truth shaped the newsroom. Between July 2023 and February 2025, he served as Executive for Administration and Operations at Drik Picture Library, supporting projects for UNICEF, USAID, WaterAid and National Geographic. Research, interviews, event coordination and archival management were all carried out with his signature precision and care.
“Affectionately known to his loved ones as ‘Ananda’, he was a passionate journalist, insightful researcher and a man whose humour and warmth touched everyone he met. He embraced life with joy, compassion and curiosity — never dwelling on the past but always living fully. His laughter, kindness, and presence will be deeply missed and forever cherished,” Drik stated in a condolence message.
Outside the newsroom, Nahid’s creative humour and expressive personality shone brightly. On social media, he referred to himself playfully as an “adult humorist,” sharing romantic and witty posts celebrating his life with his beloved wife, Nasrin Humayra. Despite occasional criticism, he remained unapologetically himself, a man who expressed love, joy, and laughter without hesitation.
On a personal note, Nahid Bhai was kindness personified. Forever smiling, always helpful and deeply compassionate, he inspired with his enthusiasm for news, his dedication to his craft and the warmth with which he greeted every person at the TIMES newsroom. His absence leaves a nonfillable void, yet the light he shared will remain with us forever.
TIMES of Bangladesh extends heartfelt condolences to his family, praying for strength and patience as they endure this immeasurable loss.
