BBC
pays tribute to Bengali journalist Manik Saha
It
is with great sadness that BBC World Service today, Thursday 15
January 2004, confirms the tragic death of Manik Saha.
Mr
Saha had worked for the BBC as a freelance for over 10 years as
a regular contributor to the BBC Bengali service.
Mr
Saha was killed in a bomb attack in the south-western city of Khulna
in Bangladesh. He was travelling by rickshaw when a bomb was thrown
at him, killing him instantly.
He
was 47 and is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Barry
Langridge, Head of Asia-Pacific Region, paid tribute to Mr Saha:
''The reputation of the BBC so often rests on contributions from
brave and experienced journalists facing various dangers and conflict
in their everyday work.
"This
tragedy reminds us how much we owe to journalists like Manik Saha."
Sabir
Mustafa, Head of the Bengali Service, said he was a brave journalist
and will remembered with deep fondness: ''Manik has been an outstanding
contributor to the BBC's Bengali programmes.
"His
insight into the various social, political and economic issues of
the south-western region of Bangladesh has enriched the BBC's programmes.
"Those
of us who've known him remember him as an extremely decent man,
who always had time to help others.
"Manik
will be greatly missed by all those who work for the BBC Bengali
service.''
Mr
Saha is the second BBC contributor to lose his life in Bangladesh.
Shamsur
Rahman, was shot in the neighbouring town of Jessore in 2000.
The
Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia, has promised an investigation
into Mr Saha's death.
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