Today is the 90th anniversary of the birth of Language Movement hero, freedom fighter, cultural activist and Ekushey Padak-winning journalist Kamal Lohani.
Born on June 26, 1934 at Santala village of Ullapara in Sirajganj, Kamal Lohani tried to make people aware about their rights and dedicated his life in building a democratic, secular and freethinking society.
He started journalism career with the 鈥楧aily Millat鈥� in 1955 and later worked in various newspapers, including 鈥楢zad鈥�, 鈥楽angbad鈥�, 鈥楶urbadesh鈥� and 鈥楧ainik Barta鈥�. He served as the news editor at 鈥楽wadhin Bangla Betar Kendra鈥� during the tumultuous days of the War of Independence.
He was the first president of Bangladesh Journalist Union. He was also the director of Bangladesh Press Institute. He served as the director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy twice from 1991 to 1992 and 2009 to 2011. He was the president of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi from 2012 to 2016.
He devoted his life to cultural movement. He was involved with 鈥楥hhayanaut鈥�, 鈥楰ranti Shilpigoshthi鈥�, 鈥楪anashilpi Sangstha鈥� and 鈥楿dichi Shilpigoshthi鈥� and others.
He joined Chhayanaut in 1962 and served as the general secretary of the cultural organisation. He, later, established the 鈥楰ranti Shilpigoshthi鈥� in 1967.
He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2015.
Kamal Lohani died of Covid at Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital in Dhaka on June 20, 2020.