Veteran journalist Amanullah Kabir died at a city hospital early yesterday. He was 72.

The journalist, who had been suffering from various diseases, breathed his last at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) around 1:00am.

Amanullah was admitted to the intensive care unit of the BSMMU on January 2 with complications in kidney and liver.

He left behind his wife, two daughters, three sons and a host of relatives to mourn his death.

His first namaz-e-janaza was held at Kalyanpur Darussalam Furfura Sharif mosque.

His body was taken to the Jatiya Press Club around 11:30am where his second janaza was held. Various journalist organisations paid their last respect to Amanullah there.

In the afternoon, his body was taken to his home district Jamalpur where local journalists and eminent citizens paid their tributes to him at Jamalpur Press Club.

The mortal remains were taken to his home in Rekhirpara of Melandah upazila.

Family sources said Amanullah, also the former member of the Jatiya Press Club Managing Committee, would be buried at his family graveyard in Rekhirpara after another janaza there around 10:00am today.

Amanullah had been working as senior editor of online news portal bdnews24.com.

He served as executive editor of the Independent, news editor of The Daily Star, editor of Bangla Daily Amar Desh, and chief editor and managing director of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

Meanwhile, Jatiya Press Club President Saiful Alam and General Secretary Farida Yasmin expressed deep shock at the death of Amanullah. They also conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists expressed profound shock at his death.

In a joint statement, BFUJ and DUJ leaders said a vacuum has been created in the field of journalism at his death.

“He was not only a journalist but also a torchbearer of journalism. The death of Amanullah Kabir, who had been working for realising the rights of journalists, is a great loss to the journalist community.”

They prayed for the salvation of the departed soul.