Journalist and author Rahat Khan dies at 80

Author and journalist Rahat Khan, who acted as editor of the Daily Ittefaq, has died at the age of 80.

He breathed his last at his home in Dhaka’s Eskaton Garden around 8:30pm on Friday, said Delwar Hassan, a family friend.

Rahat Khan had been suffering from heart problems and diabetes, said Delwar, also a member of the National Press Club who runs Abishkar Publication.

The novelist had been bedridden with various old-age complications for quite a few days and stopped talking two days ago, Delwar said.

Rahat Khan’s body would be kept overnight at BIRDEM Hospital’s mortuary. He will be buried at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Mirpur after a Namaz-e-Janaza at the club on Saturday morning, according to Delwar.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have led the nation in paying tribute to the journalist-writer.

Hamid hailed Rahat Khan for his contribution to the practice of freethinking and development of society.

Extending sympathy to the grieving family, the president also said his demise was an irrevocable loss to Bangladesh’s journalism and literature.

Hasina said Rahat Khan will live in the hearts of the people through his works.

Born in Kishoreganj’s Tarail on Dec 19, 1940, Khan taught at educational institutions, including Nasirabad College in Mymensingh, Jagannath University and Chattogram Government College, after finishing his study.

He cut his teeth on journalism with the Dainik Sangbad in 1969. Later, he worked as an assistant editor and acting editor of The Daily Ittefaq. In 2013, the Dainik Bartoman was launched with Rahat Khan as its editor.

Habibullah Sirajee, the director general of the Bangla Academy, said Rahat Khan contributed to Bangla literature with short stories and novels. Before his death, he edited Dainik Protidiner Sangbad.

Khan earned fame after the publication of “Dilur Galpo” a collection of short stories for children, Sirajee said.

“So far I can remember, he was general secretary of a literature conference at the Bangla Academy in 1974. He regularly wrote short stories and novels besides working as a journalist at the Ittefaq,” he said.

The novels and short story books of Khan include “Amal Dhabal Chakri”, “Chhaya Dampoti”, “Shohor”, “He Shunyota”, “He Ononter Pakhi”, “Modhyo Mather Khelwar”, “Ek Priyodorshini”, “Montrisobhar Patan”, “Dui Nari” and “Kolahol”.

Rahat Khan won the Ekushey Padak in 1996 and Bangla Academy Literature Award in 1973.