The fifth death anniversary of Mahbubul Alam, longest serving editor of The Independent, was observed on Thursday (June 6). Alam, also a former caretaker government adviser, began his journalism career in 1957 with the Associated Press and was deeply engaged in the profession till his death. He passed away in Dhaka on June 6, 2014 at the age of 78. The veteran journalist also worked as minister (press) at Bangladesh missions in

Washington DC and London, and as the Bangladesh Ambassador to Bhutan. In his journalism career spanning over fifty years, he served as the editor of The Independent for 18 years, and was the managing director and the chief editor of the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

He was also editor of The New Nation and weekly Dialogue. In 2006, he was made an adviser to the caretaker government. Alam led the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) as its president till his death.