Prayers held for Baby Maudud

The Chehlum of late journalist AN Mahfuza Khatun Baby Maudud has been held at her home.

The memorial prayers were held at her Dhanmondi home on Friday evening.

Senior journalist, writer, social worker, women rights activist and former MP Maudud died at a Dhaka hospital on July 25 of cancer after a long battle aged 66.

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

MPs, politicians, colleagues of Maudud and family members attended the Chehlum.

Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman, MPs Fazilatunnesa Bappi and Kazi Rosy, Bangla Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan, actor Piyush Bandopadhyay, Vice-Chancellor of Presidency University Mahbub Ali, Dhaka University Professor Kazi Abdus Samad and rights activist Khushi Kabir attended the ceremony.

bdnews24.com Editor-in-chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi, the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists leader Ataur Rahman, Abdul Mannan, former senior reporter of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Ataur Rahman and Daily Observer's Mujibur Rahman were present.

Maudud's son Rabiul Hasan Avi thanked everyone for attending the memorial service. Hafez Monir Hossain conducted the prayers.

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

Beginning her career as a journalist in 1967, Baby Maudud worked for the BBC, Daily Sangbad, Ittefaq, BSS, and Weekly Bichitra, among other organisations, 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 Ekatturer 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 wrote regularly on various issues and published several books, mostly for children.

Maudud also played an important role in editing the autobiography of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.