Eminent journalist Kamal Lohani dies of coronavirus

Eminent journalist and Ekushey Padak winner cultural activist Kamal Lohani has died from the novel coronavirus infection today.

He breathed his last at Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute & Hospital in the capital around 10am.

His son Sagar Lohani confirmed it through a Facebook post.

His body will be taken to Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi office in Topkhana road area at 2pm today. Later he will laid to rest at his family graveyard in Sirajganj.

Kamal Lohani was suffering from kidney and lung infection, along with other health problems. He tested positive for the virus, his son said yesterday. 

He was admitted to Health and Hope Hospital at Panthapath in Dhaka on Wednesday morning. Later he was transferred to Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute & Hospital.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have mourned his death and prayed for the departed soul.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Qauder, Health Minister Zahid Maleque, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Jatiya Party Chairman Golam Mohammad Kader expressed deep shock at Kamal Lohani's death.

Kamal Lohani was born on June 26 in 1934. He grew up witnessing India's independence movement, the partition and the 1952 Language  Movement. 

Kamal Lohani performed as the head of news of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. Lohani got his first job as a journalist in the Daily Millat in 1955. Later in 1962, he joined Chhayanaut, a cultural organisation, as its secretary. 

He served as the Director General of Shilpakala Academy from April 2009 to April 2011. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2015.