A broadcast journalist with multiple talents, who ran after news throughout his whole career, made himself the top headlines in the media as his life was shockingly shut yesterday.
With the electronic media beginning to emerge over a decade ago in the country, it was Mishuk Munier who struggled every moment to uplift the quality of broadcast journalism.
Sadly, he fell victim to the similar fate like hundreds of others we lost on roads.
Big shock and grief settled over private TV channel ATN News where Mishuk was working as the chief executive officer (CEO) until yesterday.
It was a complete atypical scenario that prevailed in the newsroom of the TV station. Most of the staff members were sobbing with others having vacant look on their face.
"It is not a loss of an individual or an institution. It is a permanent loss to the whole nation," said one of Mishuk's co-workers, Munni Saha, also a well-known TV reporter.
In Bangladesh, he played the pioneering role in flourishing broadcast journalism by involving advanced technologies, said Munni, deeply mourning in tears.
Immediately after the heartbreaking news spread, many of his friends, co-workers, students, fans and artistes thronged the TV station to condole the death together.
Words failed noted litterateur Anisul Hoque for a few minutes as the shock struck a blow to him. "We have lost a shelter. I do not know how the nation will fill up the vacuum created by their (Tareque and Mishuk) death," he said.
Anisul, also a friend of Mishuk, asked, "How many more lives will be lost in road accident".
Many of his students, who are now well established in the country's mass media, think his departure as a loss of their guardian.
"I have learnt the basics of broadcast journalism from him. We will be deprived of learning many things due to his early departure," said Bayezid Milky, one of his students and editor (input) of ATN News.
Mishuk Munier, 52, son of martyred intellectual Munier Chowdhury, gained repute as a camera director in international arena. He was considered 'Simon Dring' of Bangladesh.
For over 10 years, he worked as cameraperson for BBC world service, WTN, ARD1, Channel 4, ETV, CBC, and Discovery Health in Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Canada.
He covered tough assignments in conflict zones and during the time of natural disasters, political upheavals and turmoil.
Mishuk worked as the head of news operations for the first private terrestrial television in Bangladesh, Ekushey Television (ETV), and taught broadcast journalism at the University of Dhaka.
Earlier, he worked as the head of broadcast operations in Canada-based Real Television.
Mishuk finally joined ATN News early last year as its CEO.
As the chief cameraperson, he also shot popular film "Runway" by noted filmmaker Tareque Masud who was also killed in the same road accident yesterday.
The two were heading to Manikganj sadar from visiting a shooting spot for Tareque Masud's new film "Kagojer Phul" in the district's Shibalaya upazila.
Source : The Daily Star
