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August 23, 2025 – Bangladesh –
Senior journalist and columnist Bibhuranjan Sarkar, aged 71, was found dead in the Meghna River in Munshiganj’s Gazaria Upazila on Friday afternoon, a day after his disappearance. The body, discovered near Balakir Char by river police, was identified by his family members via photographs and later confirmed at the morgue of Munshiganj General Hospital.
Sarkar, who served as Senior Assistant Editor at the Bengali daily Ajker Patrika and regularly contributed columns to other media outlets, left his Siddheshwari residence Thursday morning around 10 AM, reportedly heading to his office. He left his mobile phone behind and never arrived at his workplace. By 9 PM, concerned family members filed a missing person report with Ramna Police Station.
Earlier that morning, around 9:15 AM, he emailed an opinion piece titled “Khola Chithi” (“Open Letter”) to bdnews24.com, with a poignant footnote: “You may publish this as my final piece of writing.” The article, published later in the day, reflected on his five-decade career—from correspondent beginnings at Dainik Azad to editorial roles at Sangbad, Rupali, Dainik Matribhumi, Chaltipatra, and as executive editor at Mridubhashon. It revealed deep personal struggles: chronic illness, financial hardship, his son’s unemployment despite graduating from BUET, and his daughter’s stalled government career.
His open letter expressed disillusionment with the state of Bangladesh’s media environment, noting that truth‑telling came with “constant fear for my safety.” He lamented that while advocating for justice, he never benefited from the privileges that others in the field enjoyed and described his life as devoid of success. “Let sorrow be my final companion … and may every living being in this world be happy,” he wrote.
Sarkar’s sudden death has sent shockwaves across Bangladesh’s media fraternity. Colleagues mourned the loss of a fearless voice, sparking concerns over journalists’ safety and media freedom in the country. While an autopsy is pending, no indication of foul play or injury has been publicly reported so far.
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