BSS-35 Journalist Rahat Khan passes away

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ZCZC

BSS-35

OBIT-RAHAT-KHAN-LEAD

Journalist Rahat Khan passes away

DHAKA, Aug 28, 2020 (BSS) – Veteran journalist and litterateur
Rahat Khan died of old age complications at his Eskatan Garden
residence in the city tonight.

He breathed his last at 8:30pm, family sources said.

He was 79.

The noted journalist was suffering from kidney ailments, diabetes
and other complications.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep shock and sorrow at
the death of Rahat Khan.

In a condolence message, she prayed for eternal peace of departed
soul and conveyed deep sympathy to bereaved family.

Born on 19 December, 1940 in Kishoreganj district, Khan wrote his
first story as a student in class three. He completed a degree in
economics and philosophy at Ananda Mohan College. He earned his MA
from the Department of Bangla Language and Literature at the
University of Dhaka in 1961. For the next eight years, he taught
Bangla at various colleges, including Jagannath College in Dhaka.

In 1969, Khan joined the Bangla daily Ittefaq as assistant editor.
He spent over four decades at the newspaper, eventually becoming its
editor.

In 1972, he published his first collection of short stories,
Onischito Lokaloy (Uncertain Human Habitation). The following year he
received the Bangla Academy Literary Award for his short stories.

He produced further volumes: Ontohin Jatra (The Eternal Journey),
Bhalo Monder Taka (Money for Good and Evil), and in 1983, Apel Songbad
(News of the Apple). In the early 1980s, he published his debut novel,
Omol Dhobol Chakri (Milk-White Service). He continued writing novels
into the 1990s.

After leaving Ittefaq, he was advisory editor of Dainik Bartoman.
He also served as the chairman of the board of directors of the
national news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). He has
written more than 32 novels.

Khan won numerous awards during his lifetime including Bangla
Academy Literary Award and Ekushey Padak for his literary works.

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