Veteran journalist Ataur Rahman Firoz passes away in Lohagara

Ataur Rahman Firoz, a prominent journalist, writer, and retired educator, passed away on Tuesday evening. He was 76.

Firoz breathed his last around 7:00 pm at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka while undergoing treatment for long-term complications related to diabetes. He is survived by his wife, a son, and many well-wishers.

Ataur Rahman Firoz balanced a career in teaching at the historic Itna School and College with a passion for journalism that began in the 1980s. He served as the Lohagara correspondent for the now-defunct Daily Ajker Kagoj.

Beyond his reporting, Firoz was a pillar of the local cultural community. He was the founder general secretary of the Itna Public Library and served as an executive member of the Ram Narayan Public Library in Lohagara.

Firoz was deeply committed to documenting local history. He authored several books, including a definitive history of Itna. Notably, he played a crucial role in advocating for state recognition for the martyrs of the May 23, 1971, Itna massacre.

His funeral prayer (Janaza) is scheduled to be held in Itna today, Wednesday, following the Zohr prayers. Local journalists and community leaders have expressed profound grief over his passing, offering their deepest condolences to the bereaved family.