Photo: Collected

 DHAKA, July 5, 2026, (BSS) – Veteran journalist and adjunct faculty of Dhaka University’s mass communication and journalism department Shahed Kamal was laid to his eternal rest today on the grave of his illustrious mother Poet Sufia Kamal at Azimpur graveyard.

The burial came a day after he breathed his last at the age of 86 at the intensified care unit (ICU) of a private hospital as he was being treated there for pneumonia and diarrhoea.

Kamal was a former news editor of national news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

His body was kept overnight at his parents “Sajher Maya” residence in Dhanmondi while he was buried this afternoon after three namaj-e-janaza’s.

The first jannaza was held at Taqwas Mosque at Dhanmondi, the second on Dhaka University’s campus and the last one at the National Press Club.

Relatives, former colleagues, students and admirers thronged the house overnight and joined the janaza prayers to have their last glimpses of the scholarly journalist and pray for his eternal peace.

They also paid their rich tributes offering wreaths on the coffin.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon joined the third janaza at the JPC.

Kamal made his debut in journalism professional in 1957 and served in the then Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and continued his job as it was renamed and restructured as Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) as the country’s national news agency.

After Bangladesh’s independence, he simultaneously joined as an adjunct faculty of the journalism department of the premier Dhaka University, from where he had secured his masters degree in journalism as well.

Ahead of obtaining his master’s degree he received his bachelor’s degree from the university after his studies in Notre Dame College.

A confirmed bachelor, Kamal, was active in Bangladesh’s scouting movement and known for his acumen in classical music, fine arts, literature alongside political and social history.

He was admitted to the ICU on Saturday morning with pneumonia and diarrhea, just 20 days ahead of his 86th birthday on July 24. 

During his decades’ long career both as a journalist and journalism teacher he taught a number of journalists while many of them subsequently earned prominence in the profession.

Kamal was the eldest among his currently surviving two sisters and a brother.

“We were six brothers and three sisters while the others passed away at different times,” his sister rights activist and lawyer Sultana Kamal told BSS.