Touching send-off for Baby Maudud

She always identified herself first as a journalist and considered the National Press Club her home.

AN Mahfuza Khatun Baby Maudud on Friday night received her last farewell there bathing in respect and love from her family, relatives, colleagues, journalists, politicians and many other personalities.

Senior journalist, writer, social worker, women rights activist and former MP Maudud died at a Dhaka hospital on Friday of cancer after a long battle at the relatively young age of 66.

She had been the Social Affairs Editor at bdnews24.com since 2009.

Baby Maudud was laid to rest at Banani Graveyard after funeral prayers and tributes at the National Press Club.

Earlier, grief-stricken environment descended on National Press Club premises when her mortal remains were brought there around 9:30pm.

She was a permanent member of the club.

Long-time colleagues of the senior journalist became emotional while paying their last tributes.

Many staff of the press club were wiping away their tears when they were paying last respects to their ‘caring Baby Apa’.

Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi and journalists and staff of bdnews24.com were present at the time.

After a Namaj-e-Janaza there, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Military Secretary Maj Gen Miah Md Joynul Abedin, Bir Bikram paid last tributes and placed wreath on her behalf on the coffin.

He also paid tributes on behalf of Hasina’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana. The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil was present at the time.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Law Minister Anisul Haque, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and Information Commissioner Sadeka Halim also paid their respects to the former MP.

Floral wreaths were put on her coffin on behalf of journalists' associations, political parties, cultural and literary associations.

Among others, CPB Adviser and former president Manjurul Ahsan Khan, Awami League leaders Nuh-ul Alam Lenin and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, the president's Press Secretary Ehsanul Karim Helal, the Prime Minister's Press Secretary AKM Shamim Chowdhury and Dhaka University Professor Muntasir Mamun took part in the Namaz-e-Janaza.

Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar, senior journalists Habibur Rahman Milon, Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Shafiqur Rahman, Farid Hossain, Azizul Islam Bhuiyan, BSS Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Secretary General MA Aziz, Dhaka Union of Journalists President Altaf Mahmud, General Secretary Kuddus Afrad, Jahangir Alam Pradhan, National Press Club President Kamal Uddin Sabuj, General Secretary Syed Abdal Ahmed, Dhaka Reporters Unity President Shahed Chowdhury and General Secretary Ilias Khan also took part in the funeral prayers.

Earlier in the evening, the family held a funeral prayer right before the Esha prayers in front of her Dhanmondi house.

Another a Janaza was held at the Dhanmondi Eidgah ground after the Esha prayers. Her body was then taken to press club.

After the Janaza and tributes there, an ambulance took Baby Maudud’s body to Banani Garaveyard around 10:45pm.

She was laid to rest in the grave of her husband Advocate Md Hasan Ali afterwards.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker and bdnews24.com staff were present there along with Baby Maudud's family.

The veteran journalist was born in Kolkata on June 23, 1948.

She was born to Abdul Maudud, a a judge and Hedayet-un-Nisa. She was the third among six brothers and three sisters.

Beginning her career as a journalist in 1967, Baby Maudud worked for the BBC, Daily Sangbad, Ittefaq, BSS, and Weekly Bichitra before joining bdnews24.com.

She joined the East Pakistan Students' Union in her student days at Dhaka University, and also served as a member of the Rokeya Hall student council from 1967-68.

She graduated in Bangla in 1971.

In the '90s, she was a vocal supporter of the Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee's movement for the prosecution of suspected war criminals.

Baby Maudud was elected to a reserved women's seat in the Ninth Parliament on Awami League nomination.

She had served as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Baby Maudud, who was close to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family, was a university friend of Hasina.

The death of a trustworthy friend has left the prime minister bereaving.

In a condolence message, she said, "In her death, I have lost a dear and old friend."