Eminent journalist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury passes away

Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, a prominent journalist and writer of the lyrics “Amar Bhaier Rôkte Rangano,” passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in London at the age of 87.

He breathed his last at Barnet Hospital in London at 6:40am on Thursday (local time). He was suffering from many old age complications, according to family sources.

He is best known for writing the lyrics to Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano which is recognised as the most influential and widely celebrated song commemorating the Bengali Language Movement that took place in 1952.

Abdul Gaffar Choudhury is a Bangladeshi-born British writer, journalist, columnist, political analyst and poet.

Choudhury was born at Ulania village in Mehendiganj of Barisal, Bengal Province, on 12 December 1934. He graduated from Dhaka University in 1959 and went to England on 5 October 1974.

Before moving to the United Kingdom, Choudhury worked as a journalist at different national newspapers in Dhaka.

He was the founder executive editor of Joy Bangla, a weekly newspaper published by the Bangladesh Awami League during the Bangladesh Liberation in 1971. Later, he also worked for Jugantar and Anandabazar Patrika.

In the UK, he founded a newspaper named Notun Din while during his career as a journalist he authored 35 books like "Dan Pithe Shawkat", "Chandrodwiper Upakhyan", "Nam Na Jana Bhore", "Nil Jamuna", "Shesh Rajanir Chand" and "Polashi Thekey Dhanmondi".

He also produced a film on Bangabandhu’s assassination titled “Polashi theke Dhanmondi”.

His contributions to Bangla literary world was acknowledged even before Bangladesh's independence while he received Bangla Academy Literary Award back in 1967. He was awarded Sadhinota Padak in 2009.

Chowdhury was also the recipient of Ekushey Padak UNESCO Literary Award, Bangabandhu Award, Shanghati Lifetime Achievement Award.

He went to the United Kingdom for the treatment of his wife and could not return to Bangladesh for 22 years after Bangabandhu's August 15, 1975 assassination along with most of his family members.

His wife Selima Choudhury died in London.

Chowdhury left behind his three daughters, a son and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.