Golam Sarwar, Editor of Bangla daily Samakal, passed away yesterday night, reports UNB. He was 75. The veteran journalist, who had long been suffering from various dieses, breathed his last around 9:25 pm (BST) while undergoing treatment at Singapore General Hospital, said Samakal City Editor Shahed Chowdhury. Sarwar, also the president of Editors' Council, was put on life support around 5:30pm yesterday as his health condition deteriorated. He is survived by wife, two sons, one daughter and a host of relatives and followers to mourn his death. The senior journalist was admitted to Labaid Hospital here on July 29 with pneumonia. He was airlifted to Singapore on August 3 and admitted to the Singapore General Hospital the following day. Sarwar was suffering from pneumonia, lung, kidney and some other problems.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at his death. With Sarwar's demise, the country lost two veteran editors this month as The Financial Express Editor, AHM Moazzem Hossain, died on August 1 at the age of 73.
In her condolence message, the Prime Minister recalled with profound respect the outstanding contributions of Golam Sarwar to the field of journalism.
"His death is an irreparable loss to this field," she said. Sheikh Hasina said Golam Sarwar joined all the progressive movements in the country and was always vocal when it came to upholding the Liberation War spirit in the country.
"He (Sarwar) was also involved in all the movements of the journalists for realising their legitimate rights and demands," she added.
The Prime Minister prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to his bereaved family members.
Journalist Golam Sarwar was born on April 1, 1943 at Banaripara in Barisal. Golam Sarwar, who also served as chairman of the board of directors of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), obtained his Master's degree in Bangla literature with honours from Dhaka University. He started his career as a journalist in 1963.