Journalists and Academics Honor Legacy of Veteran Editor Shahed Kamal
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Colleagues, students, and family members gathered on Thursday at “Sanjher Maya,” the historic Dhanmondi residence of poet Sufia Kamal, to pay tribute to the late veteran journalist and educator Shahed Kamal. The memorial, organized by the Human Rights Culture Foundation (MSF) and the Sanjher Maya trust, celebrated the life of an intellectual who remained steadfast in his commitment to a progressive, exploitation-free society.
Shahed Kamal, who passed away on July 4 at the age of 86, was remembered not only for his professional contributions at the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), where he served as news editor, but also for his long-standing pedagogical influence. Having served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka since 1976, he was lauded for his rare ability to distill complex sociopolitical crises into clear, accessible concepts.
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During the proceedings, former Dhaka University professor Golam Rahman reflected on the depth of Kamal’s character, while human rights activist and sister Sultana Kamal, joining via video link from abroad, described his life as exceptionally diverse and difficult to summarize. Those in attendance echoed this sentiment, highlighting a man who remained untouched by material greed and sought no public recognition for his intellectual achievements.
Khushi Kabir, coordinator of the organization Nijera Kori, recalled Kamal as a man of profound simplicity. Former Member of Parliament Aroma Dutta described him as an individual who operated with a level of modern consciousness that often surpassed the societal standards of his time. “He lived in his own world,” Dutta noted, emphasizing his immense brilliance and humility.
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The memorial, moderated by Professor Robaet Ferdous, underscored the deep, enduring bonds Kamal forged with those around him. World Bank senior education specialist Subrata Shankar Dhar spoke of a friendship that blossomed beyond the boundaries of the classroom, while Kamal’s sister, artist Sayida Kamal, expressed the family’s profound shock at his sudden passing.
The event, which began with a musical performance of Atulprasad Sen’s “Amay Rakhte Jodi Apon Ghore,” was attended by an array of his former students, neighbors, and kin, including his younger brother Sajed Kamal. As a news agency veteran and an educator, Shahed Kamal leaves behind a legacy defined by intellectual rigor, unyielding integrity, and a quiet dedication to the betterment of his country.
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