Rich tributes paid to journalist Shaheen Reza Nur

People from all walks of life came to the Central Shaheed Minar premises on Wednesday to pay homage to journalist Shaheen Reza Nur.

Shaheen, former executive editor of the daily Ittefaq and son of martyred journalist Serajuddin Hossain, died of cancer while undergoing treatment at Canada’s Vancouver General Hospital on February 13.

His body was flown back home from Canada this morning. Later the 66-year-old was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at around 11:15am.

Leaders of various political, social and cultural organizations as well as noted writers paid tributes to the eminent journalist.

Shaheen’s body was then taken to the Dhaka University (DU) Central Mosque for a second namaz-e-janaza. 

He was laid to eternal rest at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Dhaka, said Zahid Reza Nur, younger brother of Shaheen, to Dhaka Tribune.

Speaking to the media at the Central Shaheed Minar, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said: "I was shocked to hear the news of his [Shaheen’s] death. We have lost a star as we have lost a pro-liberation individual like Shaheen. We express our deep condolences to the bereaved family members.”

Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, who paid homage to Shaheen on behalf of the Awami League, said: “Shaheen, throughout his whole life, wielded his pen against anti-liberation forces.”

Sammilito Sangskritik Jote president Golam Quddus, President of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee Shahriar Kabir, Shaheen Reza Nur’s wife Khurshid Jahan Shaheen, and his son Shourav Reza, among others, were present at the Central Shaheed Minar and remembered Shaheen for his contributions to Bangladesh.

Khurshid Jahan Shaheen, the wife of the veteran journalist, said: “Although he [Shaheen] was living in Canada he constantly remained concerned about doing something for Bangladesh.”

"We never thought that he would return to his country like this," she grieved.

Shourav Reza, son of the deceased journalist, said that his father loved the people of this country. “His writings are symbols of such affection,” Shourav added.