Star staff member Shyamal Biswas dies with Covid-19

Shyamal Biswas, assistant officer, store of The Daily Star, died today with Covid-19. He was 53.

He breathed his last at Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital at 1:30pm.

Shyamal, hailing from Kalkini upazila of Madaripur, had lung infection. He tested Covid-19 positive on August 20 and was admitted to the hospital on August 23, said his son Meghnad Biswas.

He will be cremated at the Postagola Cremation Grounds later in the day.

Shyamal left behind his wife, a son and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.

The Daily Star mourns his untimely death and conveys sincere condolences to his family members.

"Let us all pray to the Almighty for the salvation and eternal peace of the departed soul of Shyamal Biswas. May the Almighty give his bereaved family members the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss," it said in a condolence message.

The Daily Star is the first newspaper in the country to opt for work from home ever since the pandemic broke out in March.

Till September 2 (10:00pm), at least 18 journalists and media workers have died of coronavirus. And at least 11 more have died with coronavirus symptoms. 

As the pandemic progressed, 179 media houses were affected. Of them, 108 are newspaper houses, according to a Facebook platform "Our Media Our Right".