President-Prime Minister mourns the death of Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury

President Mohammad Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed deep grief over the death of eminent journalist, lyricist, columnist and writer Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury.

The President and the Prime Minister expressed their condolences in separate messages on Thursday (May 19) at noon. President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin and Assistant Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Ashraf Siddiqui Bittu told this to the media.

Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, the composer of the song "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushe February" died in London at 6:40 am on Thursday (May 19) while undergoing treatment (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilahi Raziun).

Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury was born on 12 December 1934 in Chowdhury Bari, Ulania, Mehendiganj, Barisal. His father Haji Wahid Reza Chowdhury and mother Zahura Khatun. Gaffar Chowdhury started his career in 1950. He started his career as a journalist in 'Dainik Insaf'. When 'Dainik Sangbad' was published in 1951, Gaffar Chowdhury took the job of translator there. He then became associated with many newspapers.

He has held important positions in various media including monthly Saugat, Dilruba, Meghna, Ittefaq, Azad, Jihad and Purbodesh. When the war of liberation started in 1971, his family crossed the border and reached Calcutta via Agartala. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1972, he published Dainik Janpad.

In 1973, he went with Bangabandhu to the 72-nation Alliance Neutrality Conference in Algiers. After returning to the country, when his wife became seriously ill, he took her to Calcutta for treatment. He took her to London in October 1974 as she did not recover in Calcutta. There began the story of his expatriate life.

Besides journalism, he has also written stories, novels, memoirs and children's novels. He has published about 30 books including ‘Chandradiper Upekkhan’, ‘Samrater Chobi’, ‘Dhire Bohe Buriganga’. He has also written several full-length plays.

Gaffar Chowdhury has been awarded many prizes in recognition of his work. He received the UNESCO award in 1963. Besides, he has been awarded Bangla Academy Medal, Ekushey Padak, Sher-e-Bangla Padak, Bangabandhu Padak and many more.