When his daughter Audity called late at night in a broken voice, I knew what the news was. She just said, “ Baba has expired” and the line went off. I managed to say, OMG” only as I felt the weight of the death of a friend

Our friend and colleague of over 50 years Rezwan Hosssain Siddiky is dead at the age of 71. He had been ailing for a while but the death seemed so sudden. I suppose it always is when the person is close to you.

Rezwan was a year junior to us but in those days we were all part of the same crowd. He was a very proper Bengali, always in kurta pyjama and with impeccable manners. Rezwan was a simple guy who remained so till his death but always firm and confident. Few would know that he had been on the run in the late 60s as a political activist and was involved in a host of other activities. He never wavered from what he thought was the right thing to say or do and did so without making a splash. He was the quietest radical.

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I am not writing a resume of his career but remembering his friendship and the difficulties he faced and met with courage. I think I met him only once in his official office when he was the DG , Press Institute of Bangladesh. He treated me like an old friend and we chatted over nothing and drank coffee and talked about the yesterdays and tomorrows. Our paths crossed many times later as friends and fellow journalists.

Rezwan always remained politically sensitive and close to the BNP and over time his identity became mixed as the political scenario also became complex. He ran Daily Dinkal which only a loyalist could run as it was an extreme duty which only an activist can fulfill.

It may have been easier when the party was in power but when outside as it has been since 2007, only a political activist could dare to run it because it was not just a professional job but one of total dedication and commitment to his beliefs as well.

In the last decade or so , Rezwan’s health had declined as his kidneys suffered and later he was on dialysis. Twice a week he would go through the routine and his body took one beating after another. He had several complications and slowly hospitalizations became more and more frequent. But he did overcome them all. That Dinkal was kept alive by the power of his and others will till in the end it also crumbled.

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Two weeks back he was hospitalized but he made it back home. Today the call ended our hopes and his own.

He had once written on a FB post that he was expecting to live another 3-4 years but it was less than a year after that post as his words failed to match his allotted time on earth.

I called Prof. Abrar Chowdhury who was very close to him to share the news. He was already on his way to the hospital. “ Take care of yourself," I said. “ “It’s time for all of us to take care,” he replied.”

As we reach the winter of our lives, we remember old friends and friendships more and more. Rezwan walked on till his body no longer could. But the spirit walks on to a destination where we shall meet again and discuss the news, analyze the events and laugh over badly made cups of tea and coffee like we did for the last half century and more.

Good bye Rezwan, till we meet again.