Author, journalist Rahat Khan no more

Rahat Khan has died of old age complications at his Eskaton Garden residence in the city on Friday.

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

He was 79 at the time of his death. The noted journalist was suffering from kidney ailments, diabetes, and other complications.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President M Abdul Hamid expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Rahat Khan.

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

Cabinet members, government officials, and different socio-cultural organizations also mourned this prominent author’s death.

Born on 19 December, 1940, in Kishoreganj district, Khan wrote his first story as a student of 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 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 Daily Ittefaq as an 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 an advisory editor of Dainik Bartoman.

He also served as the chairman of the board of directors of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the national news agency.

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.