Esteemed journalist, writer and columnist Santosh Gupta was cremated with state honour yesterday.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life and different political, social and cultural organisations paid the last tribute to late Santosh Gupta.
A guard of honour was given to Santosh at the Central Shaheed Minar while his body was draped in the national flag.
Santosh Gupta, senior assistant editor of the Dainik Sangbad, passed away at the Ibrahim Memorial Hospital (BIRDEM) at 2.30am last Friday at the age of 79. He suffered brain haemorrhage.
The coffin carrying Santosh was taken to the Dainik Sangbad office at 10:30am where his colleagues paid homage to the veteran newsman. Then it was taken to the National Press Club.
The members of the National Press Club and journalists stood in silent tribute to Santosh. They laid wreaths at his coffin.
At 12 noon the body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar, where Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina paid tribute by placing floral wreaths on the coffin.
She prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed her sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Dhaka City Mayor Shadek Hossain Khoka, former mayor Mohammad Hanif, AL leaders Abdus Samad Azad, Abdur Razzak, former justice KM Sobhan, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University AK Azad Chowdhury, DUTA President AAMS Arefin Siddique and General Secretary Aktaruzzaman, former vice chancellor of National University Durgadas Bhattacharya, Ramendu Mujumdar, singers Rathindra Nath Ray, Fakir Alamgir, daily Sangbad Editor Bazlur Rahman, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, and Laila Kabir, among others, were present.
Sammilito Sanskritik Jote, Awami Jubo League, Bangladesh Communist Party, Il-Party, Muktijuddha Oikya Parishad, Bangabandhu Lolitkala Academy, Sammilito Nagarik Samaj, Muktijuddha Jadughar, Kendriya Khelaghar, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Karmajibi Nari were among the organisations that paid homage to Santosh.
At 1:00pm the body was taken to the crematorium in Postagola.