Fahim Munaim passes away

Syed Fahim Munaim, chief executive officer and chief editor at Maasranga Television, has died of cardiac arrest at the age of 62.

A former executive editor of The Daily Star, Munaim breathed his last at his Gulshan residence around 6:15am today.

Decision on his burial will be finalised after his two sons reach Dhaka from abroad. Till then, the body will be kept at Square Hospital’s mortuary, according to Maasranga Television. 

Munaim, son of late Syed Nuruddin, served as managing editor of The Daily Star since 1996 before starting to work as press secretary to the then chief adviser of caretaker government in 2007.

He joined The Daily Star on June 10, 1996 as deputy managing editor and was promoted to the post of the managing editor on December 1 following year.

Munaim became executive editor of the newspaper on February 1, 2010.

In March of 2010, he joined Maasranga Television, a concern of Square Group, as the chief executive officer and chief editor.

He was also made ambassador to Indonesia in 2008.

Born in July 4, 1953, Munaim in his professional career held the position of an executive director at the Sangbad and managing editor at the Morning Sun, news agency UNB and weekly Dhaka Courier.

He also worked as press councillor at Bangladesh embassy in Tokyo.

Fahim Munaim is also a well-known TV personality.

He earned huge popularity among journalists during his stint there.

Immediately after his death, his well-wishers and acquaintances on Facebook paid tribute to his work and life.

“... I can't believe that you are gone so young. You were a friend, mentor, and role model, and we are all the poorer for your passing,” says Zafar Sobhan, the editor of Dhaka Tribune, on his Facebook profile.

Expressing sadness over his death, the then chief adviser of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said: “In a long and successful journalistic career, including as the Managing Editor of the Daily Star and as the CEO of Massranga, Fahim contributed immensely to the public life of Bangladesh. When called upon to serve as press secretary to the Chief Adviser of non-party caretaker government in 2007, he welcomed the opportunity to serve his country, and did so effectively and with deep integrity.”

“I spoke with him virtually every morning during my tenure as Chief Adviser, and I always found his counsel to be immensely valuable, on topics ranging far beyond his immediate purview as press secretary. We shall all, as a nation, miss his deeply-held commitment to the freedom of the press,” Ahmed wrote in a condolence message.

“He was a wonderful man and I was close to him. He shared my passion for Baul Music and Sufism. He will be missed. Will everybody please join me in a moment of prayer for the deceased. Thanks,” says Mac Haque.