Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria*

Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

The ever-smiling Dhakayan, full of life and energy, breathed his last at 11:30 am on Sunday. A recipient of the Ashoka Fellowship (1990) for his work on environment and development, Samad contributed articles to TIME magazine, India Today, Outlook, Al Jazeera, International Affairs Review, News Times, Shuddhashar, Bangladesh Observer, Dhaka Tribune, The Daily Star and Dhaka Courier, among others.

Born on 13 November 1952 in Dhaka, Samad graduated from Jagannath College in 1976 and later went to the United States to pursue a master’s course at Colorado State University. Journalism remained his lifelong vocation, alongside his visible role in training a large number of young journalists from small towns and rural areas of Bangladesh. He conducted a series of workshops on environment and development journalism for South Asian journalists in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. He was laid to rest at his family graveyard in the Mirpur locality in the presence of family members and admirers.

As a young reporter, Samad earned instant recognition with a report on the Shanti Bahini from the Chittagong Hill Tracts in southern Bangladesh. As a journalist and media columnist, he continued his courageous pursuits, engaging in investigative work and defending media rights. In 2002, he was arrested on charges of sedition for freelancing for an international media outlet and was jailed for over 50 days. He was subjected to physical torture during his detention. Two years later, he was forced to leave Bangladesh and returned home in 2010 after six years of exile in Canada.

A permanent member of the Jatiya Press Club and Dhaka Reporters Unity, Samad was also associated with several reputed global organisations, including USAID, UNICEF, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, the Academy for Educational Development, the Forum of Environmental Journalists Bangladesh, the Environment & Social Development Organisation, the Bangladesh Human Rights Journalists Forum, and the Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism & Communication.

During my first visit to Dhaka in 2001, I had the opportunity to meet a number of working journalists who remained friends forever. Some of those great souls, including Mahbubul Alam, then editor of The Independent, his colleagues Mrinal Roy (business correspondent) and Syed Lutful Haque (staff cartoonist), as well as FEJB president Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, have already left this world. Whenever I visit the crowded city again, I will miss them all.

Saleem-bhai had not been feeling well for some time. When he responded to my telephone call a few days ago, I sensed weakness in his voice, though he revealed nothing. Months earlier, he had anticipated that Tarique Rahman, still in exile as the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, would return to power whenever elections were held in Bangladesh. Contrary to unfounded assertions that Professor Muhammad Yunus would continue as head of a caretaker government for many years, he believed the lone Bangladeshi Nobel laureate would take an appropriate decision at the right time.

On my last visit to Bangladesh, I went to Samad’s apartment. Jasmine Bhabi, while offering a hot cup of tea, remarked, “Just have it and ignore the taste, as it’s difficult to satisfy a brother-in-law from the land of tea (Assam).” In truth, it was delightful, and I admired her preparation—mixing tea bags with milk and sugar.

Goodbye, Saleem-bhai, for being an unconditional well-wisher, friend and guide beyond our national and religious affiliations.

---

*Senior journalist based in Guwahati

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Covishield controversy: How India ignored a warning voice during the pandemic

Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD * It is a matter of pride for us that a person of Indian origin, presently Director of National Institute of Health, USA, is poised to take over one of the most powerful roles in public health. Professor Jay Bhattacharya, an Indian origin physician and a health economist, from Stanford University, USA, will be assuming the appointment of acting head of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. Bhattacharya would be leading two apex institutions in the field of public health which not only shape American health policies but act as bellwether globally.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Growth without justice: The politics of wealth and the economics of hunger

By Vikas Meshram* In modern history, few periods have displayed such a grotesque and contradictory picture of wealth as the present. On one side, a handful of individuals accumulate in a single year more wealth than the annual income of entire nations. On the other, nearly every fourth person in the world goes to bed hungry or half-fed.

Thali, COVID and academic credibility: All about the 2020 'pseudoscientific' Galgotias paper

By Jag Jivan The first page image of the paper "Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis" published in the Journal of Molecular Pharmaceuticals and Regulatory Affairs , Vol. 2, Issue 2 (2020), has gone viral on social media in the wake of the controversy surrounding a Chinese robot presented by the Galgotias University as its original product at the just-concluded AI summit in Delhi . The resurfacing of the 2020 publication, authored by Dharmendra Kumar , Galgotias University, has reignited debate over academic standards and scientific credibility.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

'Serious violation of international law': US pressure on Mexico to stop oil shipments to Cuba

By Vijay Prashad In January 2026, US President Donald Trump declared Cuba to be an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US security—a designation that allows the United States government to use sweeping economic restrictions traditionally reserved for national security adversaries. The US blockade against Cuba began in the 1960s, right after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 but has tightened over the years. Without any mandate from the United Nations Security Council—which permits sanctions under strict conditions—the United States has operated an illegal, unilateral blockade that tries to force countries from around the world to stop doing basic commerce with Cuba. The new restrictions focus on oil. The United States government has threatened tariffs and sanctions on any country that sells or transports oil to Cuba.

Development at what cost? The budget's blind spot for the environment

By Raj Kumar Sinha* The historical ills in the relationship between capital and the environment have now manifested in areas commonly referred to as the "environmental crisis." This includes global warming, the destruction of the ozone layer, the devastation of tropical forests, mass mortality of fish, species extinction, loss of biodiversity, poison seeping into the atmosphere and food, desertification, shrinking water supplies, lack of clean water, and radioactive pollution.

Big promises, limited delivery? Rekha Gupta's first year as Delhi CM

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* Delhi has witnessed women at the helm before, each leaving behind a distinct political and administrative imprint on the national capital. From diplomacy to development, the city's past female chief ministers shaped governance in their own ways. As Rekha Gupta completes one year in office, the question arises: has her tenure lived up to her ambitious promises? After her first year, Gupta appears to have made tall claims but delivered little since taking the oath of office. Despite coming from a background in student politics, her report card as Delhi chief minister is far from impressive. She seems to understand the nuances of politics, yet she is often seen generating considerable buzz without substantial delivery on the ground.

Search This Blog