Journalist Khalidi’s funeral in Banani tomorrow, burial in Mirpur

The funeral prayer of Toufique Imrose Khalidi, late editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com and a pioneer of digital journalism in Bangladesh, will be held at the Old DOHS playground in Banani on Saturday. He will be buried at the Martyred Intellectuals Cemetery in Mirpur.

Khalidi’s body is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh from London on Saturday morning. His coffin will then be taken to his residence, where family members and relatives will pay their final respects.

His body will be kept at the Old DOHS playground in Banani from 2pm to 3pm to allow friends, relatives, colleagues, well-wishers and representatives from different sections of society to pay their last respects. The funeral prayer will be held there at 3pm.

The journalist will be laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectuals Cemetery in Mirpur at 5pm.

Khalidi, who was in London on a personal visit, suddenly fell ill on the night of October 1. He was taken to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, where doctors diagnosed a brain haemorrhage. He was declared dead at 2:23pm local time the following day.

His first funeral prayer was held after Zuhr prayers at Brick Lane Mosque in East London on October 8. Former colleagues and members of the local Bangladeshi community attended to pay their final respects.

At the London funeral, his son, Raad Sharara Khalidi, a director of Bangladesh News 24 Hours Limited, delivered a brief speech on behalf of the family.

He said his father had upheld certain professional principles and never wanted to compromise on them. Khalidi believed journalism should be honest, fearless and independent, adding that it was not merely a profession for him but a responsibility and a passion.

“Fulfilling this responsibility meant that he had to go through many difficult periods in his life. Many of you present here stood by him during those turbulent and challenging times. Our family is grateful for your love, courage and support,” Raad said.

He urged everyone to pray for his father, asking Allah to forgive his shortcomings and accept his good deeds.