Farkhre Alam of Bangladesh was not just a journalist, but also a poet and writer. He never speaks, but tells stories. In fact, when he speaks he talks as if he is telling stories. He was a contemporary journalist. He wrote smoothly with colloquial Bangla language, for which he have had his own style.
I met him at his Chansra based residence in Jashore town few months back. My younger sister Raufa Akhter lives on rent at a residence owned by the journalist. She goes to the residence of her land lord now and then. Fakhre Alam very often asked her about me. While I met him my sister accompanied me. My daughter Sauda and wife Koli were with me.
The elderly journalist has become blind for over a year due to cancer. But his sense was sharp. As soon as I entered his residence, he asked his wife – who is there? I voiced – Saif.
He replied- how are you Saif? I’m okay and you? He started his story telling—
He told me about the time in India while he visited there for treatment. He told me the story in his own style. I was amazed to hear him. He was also famous for writing stories about famous or general people soon after his or her death.
Hearing the news of his sad demise from my sister I became shocked. I thought that he would live more.
Noted journalists, poet and writer Fakhre Alam was only at 59 while he breathed his last at his Chansra based residence in Jashore town at around 9am on Thursday although he was declared dead at Jashore General Hospital by the attending doctor later.
Journalists and family sources said Fakhre Alam, who was born on 21st June, 1961 at Chansra in Jashore town, had been suffering from cancer for a long. He is survived by his elderly mother, wife, a son, a daughter and a host of well wishers to mourn.
Award winning journalists Fakhre Alam started journalism for the Weekly Robbar in 1985 and served for daily Ajker Kagoj, Manabjamin, Janakantho, Jaijaidin, Bhorer Kagoj, Banglabazar and Kaler Kantho as Jashore Correspondent, Regional Correspondent and Special Correspondent. He was awarded as Monajat Uddin Smriti Paurashkar, Bazlur Rahman Smriti Padak, FPAB, TIB and many other awards.
He was a writer of a total of 34 books including Reporterer Diary (Diary of a Reporter), Hater Muthoy Sanbadikata(Journalism within the hand) and Jashorer Ganahatta( Genocide in Jashore).
Today after the death of my heroic colleague, I could say nothing but to pay solemn tribute to his departed soul. May the Almighty place him in peace!
Saifur Rahman Saif is a Bangladeshi journalist. He works at New Age, a popular newspaper. He contributed a story in Freelance Success Stories published simultaneously from the USA and Canada. He can be reached at [email protected]
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