Reazuddin Ahmed, a senior journalist and former president of Jatiya Press Club (JPC), died of Covid-19 at a city hospital on Saturday. He was 77.

Reazuddin, also former president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and former editor of the News Today, The Financial Herald breathed his last at 1:36 pm at United Hospital, an official at the hospital told UNB.

He said the journalist was admitted to the hospital on December 13 with the Covid infections and shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on December 19 as his condition worsened.

He was awarded with Ekushey Padak in 1993 for journalism.

Born on November 30, 1945 at Narandi village in Narsingdi district, Reazuddin completed his post-graduation in Economics in 1967 and attained LLB degree in 1972 from Dhaka University.

However, the meritorious senior journalist took up journalism as his career in 1968 as he joined the then Pakistan Observer.

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During the Liberation War in 1971, he quit the Pakistan Observer and joined the war as a freedom fighter.

After the country’s independence, he joined the Bangladesh Observer and worked there until 1990. He served the daily as Chief Editor, Staff Correspondent and held many other important positions.

In his long professional life, he worked as Deputy Editor at The Daily Star, Chief Editor in Financial Express, Editor the Daily Telegraph and News Today, and lastly worked as Editor and Publisher at Financial Herald.

From 1995 to 1998, and 2003 to 2006, Reazuddin was elected the President of the JPC. He was also the President of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and A Dhaka University Senate member.

In his lifetime, the veteran journalist won many awards like Sher-e-Bangla Padak, Mowlana Akram Khan Padak and Narsingdi Press Club Award.

He is survived by wife, one son, one daughter, grandchildren and numerous admirers.

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The former president of JPC will be buried on Sunday at Banani graveyard after namaz-e-janaza at the Jatiya Press Club premises at 11 am.

Meanwhile, JPC President Farida Yasmin and General Secretary Elias Khan expressed deep shock at his death and expressed sympathies to his family members.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Reporter’s Unity (DRU) President Nazrul Islam Mithu and General Secretary Dr Nurul Islam Hasib also expressed deep shock at the demise of Reazuddin Ahmed.