2024-09-26 23:09:32
Mustafa Mamun did not hesitate to say. not once Said twice. Mamun, the editor of Dainik Desh Panwar, frankly admitted, ‘I am saying with everyone in mind, Aghor Mandal is the best cricket reporter in the history of Bangladesh. No one can be a better writer than him. No one can be a better speaker than him. No one can be a bigger analyst than him. But there was no greater reporter than him.’
Mamun’s announcement came on a day when legendary sports journalist Aghor Mandal left the illusion of the world and crossed over. For quite some time he was suffering from various physical complications including kidney and heart disease. Although the kidney problem was somewhat controlled through dialysis treatment, he was infected with dengue on September 5. He was put on life support at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. He breathed his last there yesterday afternoon.
He was brought to the National Handball Stadium at eight o’clock at night. Where players, organizers and colleagues said goodbye to him with respect and love. Before paying tribute, Mustafa Mamun said, ‘If there is a coaching manual for reporters, Aghor Da’s life is the coaching manual. If one wants to become a big reporter then he has to follow Aghor Da. You have to know how he made himself.’
ATM Saiduzzaman, Editor of Dainik Kaler Kantha and President of Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association, said almost the same thing, ‘He is my teacher since I started journalism. My reporting career began with his tutelage. He used to press to get the work out. He is my teacher, he is my friend. I shared the press box with him for a long time. This is the absolute find of my life. I want to say that his family members should be proud to have someone like him as a family member. God took him. Surely take good care of him.’
Cricket organizer and former director of BCB Ahmed Sazzadul Alam Bobby said, ‘We have sought advice from Aghor Mandal in various situations or critical times in our cricket board or other federations. How to get rid of that situation. He gave us those suggestions impartially. It was good for us. The mutual understanding and relationship between us was deep. We now have fewer people to share and talk to. Another name was cut from that list. Aghor Da will be fine on the other side.’
Aminul Haque, the former captain of the national football team and sports editor of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said, ‘When I was serving as sports editor, I used to contact him if I needed any information, data or anything related to sports. Dada used to sit and talk with me without hesitation. He left us when it was time for a change, and could have fixed the playing field with a lot of guidance.’
Aghor Mondal has been involved in journalism for over three decades. Was in Voor paper in the nineties. At present, many established sports journalists of the country have been contacted through him. He joined broadcasting in the early 21st century. Working in Channel I, Deepta TV, ATN News for a long time.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Bangladesh Olympic Association, Dhaka Reporters Unity, Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA), Bangladesh Krilalekh Samiti and many other organizations have sent separate condolence messages on the death of Aghor Mandal. Aghor Mandal was cremated at Postagola Crematorium at night.
Aghor Mandal has seen the history of Bangladesh’s cricket changes. He brought out the unknown of many cricketers with the touch of pen. Over the professionalism with whom a friendly relationship has been formed gradually. As Akram, Bulbul, Nannu, Durjoys of the past have been closely watched, Shakib, Mashrafe, Tamim, Mushfiq, Ashraful have also accompanied them on their journey.
Many of today’s established sports journalists are made by him. Almost everyone is showering love for Aghor Mandal on social media. Where the grief of losing him prematurely has been expressed in hundreds of thousands of words, in uncontrollable emotions.
He wrote the last letter of his life in Anandabazar, Kolkata, on August 27. Feeling a little better during the dialysis treatment, he wrote on his mobile phone while lying in the hospital bed, ‘Flowers and thorns for Shakib in the hearts of the people of Bangladesh.’ He never held a pen after that. He pulled the ‘beard’ forever.