Mizanur Rahman Khan laid to eternal rest

Noted journalist and Prothom Alo’s joint editor Mizanur Rahman Khan was laid to rest at Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Graveyard at around 2:15pm on Tuesday.

The ambulance carrying Mizanur Rahman Khan’s body reached the graveyard at 1:30pm. His wife, children, family members, relatives and Prothom Alo’s colleagues were present during the burial.

Earlier, colleagues paid their last respects to him at the daily’s Karwan Bazar office on Tuesday afternoon.

Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman along with other colleagues paid tribute to Mizanur Rahman, laying floral wreaths upon his coffin when his body was brought in front of the Prothom Alo office at around 12:15pm. Prayers were offered for the salvation of the departed soul.

Current and former staff members of Prothom Alo, journalists from different media and people from all walks of life gathered in front of the newspaper office before the coffin reached the premises.

Grief stricken colleagues broke down in tears as the ambulance carrying the body arrived at the spot.

Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman said Mizanur Rahman worked with Prothom Alo for 15 long years. He was one of the finest journalists of the country. His absence would be painful for the daily and nothing can fill the void created by Mizanur Rahman Khan’s departure.

“Let’s try to keep up his beliefs and thoughts. Let’s try to become better as journalists. Mizanur Rahman Khan’s family is part of our family. We would try to remain by their side in coming days like present and past,” Matiur Rahman told the grieving colleagues.

Mizanur Rahman Khan’s elder son and two brothers were present at that time.

Prothom Alo’s managing editor Sajjad Sharif said, “Mizanur Rahman Khan was a outstanding journalist and even better as a human being.”

Praising Mizanur Rahman Khan’s honesty, diligence and values, he said, “Mizanur Rahman Khan’s departure is an irreparable loss for journalism.”

Earlier, Mizanur Rahman Khan’s third namaz-e-janaza was held on the premises of the National Press Club around 11:00am.

Information minister Hasan Mahmud, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and other political leaders, journalist leaders and people from different walks of life attended the janaza.

Before the janaza, Hasan Mahmud said Mizanur Rahman will be remembered for his writings on legal issues, the constitution and human rights.

The first namaz-e-janaza of Mizanur Rahman was held at the Supreme Court premises around 10:00am.

Lawyers pay tribute to Mizanur Rahman Khan after the janaza on the Supreme Court Lawyers Association premises.

Justice M Enayetur Rahim, justice Md Ruhul Quddus, justice Mustafa Zaman Islam, justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman, justice Khizir Ahmed Choudhury, barrister Ruhul Kuddus, former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru, additional attorney general SM Munir, former additional attorney general Murad Reza, lawyers and journalists attended the namaz-e-janaza.

The Supreme Court Bar Association and Law Reporters Forum paid tribute to the journalist with floral wreaths. After that, the body was taken to the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) where his second janaza was held.

The second namaz-e-janaza of Mizanur Rahman Khan was held on the premises of Dhaka Reporters' Unity on 12 January 2021.

Mizanur, who had been suffering from COVID-19, died on Monday evening at the age of 53. The noted journalist breathed his last at Universal Medical College Hospital in the city’s Mohakhali area around 6:05pm.

Mizanur tested positive for coronavirus on 2 December last year. He was first admitted to Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital on 5 December.

He was shifted to the Universal Hospital on 10 December as his condition worsened and given treatment at the ICU.

The journalist was put on life support on Saturday as his condition deteriorated further and the physicians declared him dead on Monday.

Born in Jhalakathi’s Nalchity on 31 October 1967, Mizanur graduated from Barishal BM College. He took up journalism as his profession in the late 80s by joining a Barishal daily.

He worked in various capacities in different media houses in his long career.

His notable books include Sangbidhan O Tatyabadhayok Sarkar Bitorko (Constitution and the Caretaker Government Debate), Bangladesher Rajnoitik Sangkater Swarup (The True Face of Political Crisis in Bangladesh) and 1971: Americar Gopon Dalil (1971: America’s Secret Documents).

He earned a reputation through his interpretative reports and columns on legal issues.