Veteran journalist Zakaria Kajol, a founding member of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), was laid to rest at Banani Graveyard in the capital on Saturday afternoon.
His namaz e janaza took place at 2:00 pm on Saturday (February 7) on Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) premises, attended by DRU members and representatives from various professional and journalist organizations.
Speaking at the janaza, DRU president Abu Saleh Akon and general secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel expressed deep sorrow at the death of Zakaria Kajol and recalled his contributions to journalism.
They prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Leaders of several journalist organisations also paid tribute, including Obaidur Rahman Shaheen, president of a faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ); Mohammad Shahidul Islam, president of a faction of the Dhaka Journalists Union (DUJ); DUJ vice president Rafiq Mohammad; former DUJ president and former DRU general secretary Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu; DUJ general secretary Akhtar Hossain; and Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) president Daulat Akhtar Mala.
After the janaza, floral wreaths were placed on the coffin by leaders of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Journalists Union (DUJ), Economic Reporters Forum (ERF), and Brahmanbaria Journalists Forum as a mark of last respect.
Among those present were DRU treasurer Niaz Mahmud Sohel; office secretary Rashim Molla; publicity and publication secretary Mizan Chowdhury; cultural secretary Md Monowar Hossain; hospitality secretary Aminul Haque Bhuiyan; welfare secretary Rafiq Mridha; and executive members Mahfuz Sadi (Md Mahfuzur Rahman), Al-Amin Azad, and Suman Chowdhury.
Also present were BFUJ faction president Omar Faruk; former DRU president Saiful Islam; former DRU general secretary Kabir Ahmed Khan; and ERF general secretary Abul Kashem, among others.
Veteran journalist Zakaria Kajol passed away on Friday at around 3:30 pm while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital. He was 67.
He had been suffering from multiple health complications, including liver, kidney, and heart diseases, as well as diabetes.
He was born on December 16, 1959, in Brahmanbaria. Zakaria Kajol completed his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Dhaka.
During his long career, he worked with several leading media outlets, including The Daily Azad, The Observer, Daily Inqilab, bdnews24.com, Jamuna Television, and Bangla TV, where he served as Head of News.
He also served as former president of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) and acted as acting secretary general of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ).
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a large number of relatives, colleagues, and admirers.
