Whoever came in contact with Professor Sakhawat Ali, he lit a light in his life

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Prof Sakhawat Ali Khan could speak simple things easily. He could make everything come alive by analogy. He lit up the lives of all who came in contact with him. His former student and colleague Prof. Kaveri Gayen has commemorated the late Prof. Sakhawat Ali in this way.

According to another journalism teacher Professor AJM Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, Professor Sakhawat Ali is the foremost among those who are called the pioneers of journalism education in Bangladesh. Explaining this evaluation, he said that Professor Sakhawat Ali became a journalism teacher after becoming a journalist. He became unique in his combination of experience and theoretical knowledge.

Professor Sakhawat Ali’s death was described as the ‘falling of a star’ by another journalism teacher Professor Sheikh Abdus Salam. He said, ‘Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan was such a personality that cannot be erased from memory. Sir had sense of humor. He was a great artist creating the interaction of time, society and politics.’

Prof. Mofizur Rahman of Journalism Department mentioned that Prof. Sakhawat Ali was a student, teacher and people-friendly person. He said, “Sakhawat sir was a simple, fluent and humane person. It was in Sir to rise above everything to benefit anyone. He was a master figure in mass communication and journalism. He was a lifelong teacher.

Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan has taught in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University for more than five decades since 1972. After his retirement in 2008, he served there as Super Numerary Professor for five years. He was the ‘Honorary Professor’ of the department till his death.

Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan, one of the pioneers of journalism education in Bangladesh, passed away at the age of 85 on March 9 in Dhaka. The University’s Mass Communication and Journalism Alumni Association (DUMCJAA) organized a memorial meeting on his illustrious life and work at RC Majumdar Auditorium of Dhaka University this Friday afternoon. Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan was the chief advisor of this organization.

The commemoration ceremony began with a minute’s silence in memory of the professor. Later, the song ‘Aguner Parashmani Chowao Prane’ was sung to pay tribute to him. Then the commemoration begins.

Shahed Muhammad Ali, the editor of Dainik Samakal, was a student of Sakhawat Ali Khan. He said, “Sakhawat sir is there and will be.” The successful and best teacher is the one who can create stories in students’ lives. We all have such stories in our lives created by him.

Shahana Huda Ranjana, former student of Journalism Department said, Sir had ethics and social responsibility. The sincerity with which he taught, with deep knowledge of the subject, cannot be forgotten. Another student of his, Tariqul Islam, mentioned that Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan was not politically biased.

Shakil Hasan, organizing secretary of DUMCJAA, said, “Sir managed to get himself out of the distance that is usually seen between students and teachers. Sir’s memory will be immortal.

Prof Sakhawat Ali Khan’s wife, two children, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, grandson and other family members were present at the memorial service. Maleka Khan, the late professor’s wife, highlighted the experience of married life and said, “He was always by my side and by our side. I have made many mistakes at times. This man used to take me by the hand and point out my mistakes and correct them. He was very keen on children’s education.

Sakhawat Ali Khan’s daughter and associate editor of Prothom Alo Sumna Sharmeen said, father’s mind occupied a large part of his students. It was until his last day. He took classes two days before he was last sick. When I went to the hospital’s ICU, he told me, “Why are you here, there is no office?” He also said that he asked the students to call Shawnti (journalism department teacher Shawnti Haider) to inform the students whether they can take the class or not. It was a man’s commitment to work and profession.’

Sumna Sharmin also mentions getting a lot of moral support from her father in life and career. He said, ‘Father was a patient person. I have never seen him get excited or say bad things. He asked everyone to pray for Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan.

The students put forward a set of proposals in the memorial meeting of Prof. Sakhawat Ali Khan to keep his contribution, ideals, thoughts and philosophy alive. They proposed memorial lectures, scholarships, trust funds and publication of memorial books in the name of this professor. Along with that, he also requested to publish the late professor’s PhD thesis and compile various writings.

He was a student of Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan in his undergraduate and postgraduate studies, and later did his PhD under his supervision. Currently, this associate professor of the private Green University of Bangladesh said in the memorial meeting, Sakhawat Ali Khan created a unique world in the life of every student. He has laid a strong foundation for media and communication education. He taught the philosophy of journalism for ethics and peace. Sakhawat Ali Khan was a moving university. He has made a silent revolution in the life of every student, given a philosophy of life.

Oliur Rahman urged to take some initiatives to keep this professor’s contribution, ideals, thoughts and philosophy awake. In addition to organizing a ‘Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan Memorial Lecture’ under the initiative of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, he urged to consider whether a research scholarship or fellowship can be launched in his name, the establishment of a center on peace journalism and the introduction of the best thesis award. Apart from this, Oliur Rahman talked about making a memorial book and documentary about his life and work along with a trust fund in the name of this late professor, scholarships for underprivileged students, under the initiative of DUMCJAA.

Shaunti Haider, associate professor of the department, said that Sakhawat Ali Khan’s memorial meeting is being organized under the title of ‘Smriti Tarpan’ on April 13 under the initiative of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism.

DUMCJAA general secretary Mir Attaki Masruruzzaman presided over the memorial service. Under the chairmanship of the organization’s president Shamsul Haque, associate professor of journalism department Abdur Razzak Khan, former president of DUMCJAA Swapan Kumar Das, current vice president Manas Ghosh, former officer of Bard Khairul Kabir etc. spoke in it. The program ended with a prayer for late Sakhawat Ali Khan.