Loss of a true friend

7 October 2012, 18:00 PM

Mufazzal Hussain, Journalist, London, UK

Ataus Samad, my beloved friend's death shocked me since he was my best friend since school days. Friends and political parties paid him rich tributes as he devoted his life to the profession of journalism. We studied in the same class in Barisal Zilla School and we passed the Matriculation Examination together in 1952. Both of us entered journalism although we served different newspapers. Many years have gone; I had no connection with my best friend But I believe that two souls are immortal and I will meet him after my death in the outer world. We joined BSS as special correspondents in 1977. I was assigned to cover the then president General Ziaur Rahman who was to attend the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in London. Ataus Samad helped me a lot with the preparation. Since he was my best friend, he always extended his help in all respects. Two weeks after the conference, I suffered a severe stroke and I was hospitalised for a while. Ataus Samad and Renu bhabi used to visit me every day. I seriously thought that my career as a journalist was over. Two persons, Ataus Samad and Jaglul Ahmed Choudhury helped me in coming out of the crisis. As I have been living in London for the last 18 years, I was out of touch with him for a long time. Had Ataus Samad been alive today, he would probably meet the same fate as I have been facing. I truly believe he died a glorious death. I pray to the Almighty Allah that his soul may rest in peace. I offer my heartiest condolences to his family to sustain such a great loss.