Veteran journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury passes away

Veteran journalist and columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury has passed away in London. He was 87. 

Ekushey Award winning journalist Swadesh Roy confirmed the news.

He said the legendary journalist breathed his last on Wednesday night (local time).

He was born in the village of Ulania, Mehendiganj, Barisal in 1934. He graduated from Dhaka University in 1959 and went to England in 1974.

The writer, columnist, political analyst and poet, worked as a journalist in different national newspapers in Dhaka. 

During the 1971 Bangladeshi Liberation War, he worked for Joy Bangla, Jugantar and Anandabazar Patrika.

He is perhaps best known for writing the lyrics to Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano which is recognised as the most influential song of Bengali Language Movement and was initially set to music by him. 

Later, however, Altaf Mahmud's composed music and adapted the song. It has been regarded by listeners of BBC Bengali Service as the third best song in Bengali.

In the UK, he founded the newspaper Notun Din. 

He has written 35 five books. He lives in London from where he regularly writes columns in national Bangladeshi dailies, in Bengali newspapers of Bangladeshi community and in a daily paper in Kolkata.

Some of his notable works are "Dan Pithe Shawkat", "Chandrodwiper Upakhyan", "Nam Na Jana Bhore", "Nil Jamuna", "Shesh Rajanir Chand", "Polashi Thekey Dhanmondi", and "Bastobotar Nirikhey".

He produced a film on the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called Polashi theke Dhanmondi. It was reported in 2008, that he was due to produce the film The Poet of Politics about the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He has received numerous awards including Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1967, Ekushey Padak, Unesco literary Award, Bangabandhu Award, Shanghati Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008, Sadhinota Padak in 2009.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Abdul Hamid have expressed their condolences over the passing away of Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury.