ABM Musa, the county’s legendary journalist, is no more. He died in a city hospital on Wednesday. He was 83. The veteran journalist had been on life support at LabAid Hospital since Monday night. Family sources said that he breathed his last at 1:15 PM. ABM Musa was hospitalised on January 1 and was under treatment for over a month before admitted again in February due to several complications, including old-age complications. He relapsed again on March 29 and was under treatment since his death.He left behind his wife, three daughters, a son and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.His first namaj-e-janaza was held at Iqbal Road ground at Mohammadpur in the city after Magrib prayer. Then his body was taken to LabAid mortuary. His body will be taken to the National Press Club today (Thursday) where his second namaz-e-janaza will be held at 12:00 noon. Later, his body will be taken to South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad where his third namaz-e-janaza will take place.ABM Musa will be buried at Kutubpur at Fulgazi in Feni after fourth namaz-e-janaza. Family sources said that Musa would be buried in village home according to his wish, as he wanted to be buried besides his mother’s grave. President Abdul Hamid Advocate, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia expressed deep shock and offered condolences to the family of the noted journalist. In a condolence message, the President recalled the colourful professional life of ABM Musa and termed him a glittering star of the country’s journalism. In separate messages, Sheikh Hasina said that ABM Musa in his long career had been a witness to many historical incidents and he would be remembered for his contributions, while Khaleda Zia recalled his role in the country’s journalism and his contributions to the Liberation War in 1971.Bikalpa Dhara chief and former President Prof Dr AQM Badrudduza Chowdhury, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah and Chief Whip ASM Feroz also issued separate messages expressing their deep shock at the death of ABM Musa. The National Press Club, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Dhaka Reporter’s Unity, Dhaka University Sangbadik Samity, Bangla Academy, Udichhi Shilpi Gosthi and several other organisations also expressed shock at the death of Musa. Born at Dharmapur village in Feni on February 28 in 1931, ABM Musa was a close aide of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was born in his maternal uncle’s home. His father Ashraf Ali was Deputy Magistrate. He had significant contributions to the fields of journalism during his nearly 64-year old career. He received many awards, including the Ekushey Padak, for his outstanding contributions to the field of journalism. He was the founder member of the National Press Club and was elected President of the club for four times and General Secretary thrice. He was elected MP in the first national election of the country in 1973.He started his career in journalism with now-defunct ‘The Insaf’ in 1950 when he was a 19-year old youth. Later, he joined the Pakistan Observer and served there with various capacities. He also worked in the Daily Sangbad. He joined BTV as Managing Director just after the independence. Later, he joined the Morning News as Editor during 1972-73. He left the country in 1975 after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and returned in 1976 and joined The New Nation as Advisor Editor. In 1978, ABM Musa joined the United Nations Environment Activities as a Regional Director. He served in the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) as the Director General from 1981-85. He also served as the managing director and chief editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) from 1985-87. The veteran journalist played an important role in the country’s Liberation War through his reports on the BBC and in arious dailies, including The Sunday Times.
