Dhaka: Asia-Pacific Forum Environmental Journalists (APFEJ) sincerely condoles the untimely demise of senior Bangladeshi journalist and green campaigner Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, who breathed his last at 8.30 pm on 2 May 2023 in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for some weeks.
Former news editor of the government-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and general secretary of Jatiya Press Club, Chowdhury died of liver ailment and pancreatic cancer. The soft-spoken gentleman was 63 and left behind wife Kazi Shahnaz, son Shah Meem Rafayat Chowdhury, daughter Maimuna Chowdhury along with a host of relative and well-wishers.
Born in Noakhali to the family of Mohammed Ruhul Amin and Noorjahan Begum and brought up with three brothers and a sister, Chowdhury completed his early education in rural Bangladesh. Later he shifted to Dhaka for higher education. He started his career as a financial journalist and empowered himself as a leading environmental journalist and a successful climate negotiator for developing countries.
A regular participant in television talk shows, Chowdhury penned articles on rampant destruction of forests, wildlife poaching, river pollution, negative impacts on climate change for various media outlets. He also edited several anthologies on the state of environment in Bangladesh and the Asia-Pacific region.
Chowdhury served the Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB) as its general secretary and later president (till his demise). He was also instrumental in leading the World Water Forum of
Journalists (WWFJ) and APFEJ. The tireless environment activist successfully organized many media conclaves and personally represented his country in various international events on environment and climate change.
Endorsed by-Mangal Man Shakya (APFEJ secretary general, Nepal), Nava Thakuria (India), Abdur Rauf (Pakistan), Elizabeth Roxas (Philippines), Zarah Almeida Rushworth (Cambodia), Anwar Hossain Manju, Sukumar Sarkar (Bangladesh) with others for APFEJ, Dhaka