Prominent businessman Nurul Islam Babul, the chairman of Jamuna Group, has passed away at a Dhaka hospital after being infected with Covid-19.
Masud Karim, chief reporter of Nurul Islam Babul-owned daily Jugantar, confirmed the matter to Desh Rupantar. Nurul Islam was born on May 3, 1948 in an aristocratic Muslim family. His ancestral home is in Dohar, Dhaka district.
The 74-year-old breathed his last at the capital’s Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Monday, said Saiful Alam, the editor of the business group’s Bangla daily Jugantor.
Babul, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus on June 14, was admitted to the hospital the same day. The deadly disease had worsened his kidney functions. A 10-strong medical board was formed to oversee his treatment.
He is survived by wife Salma Islam, a Jatiya Party MP from the reserved seats for women, son Md. Shamim Islam, the managing director of Jamuna, and three daughters, Shariat Tasreen Soniya, Monika Nazneen Islam, Sumaiya Rozalin Islam, all directors of the business group.
Nurul Islam Babul will be remembered as a colossus of our industry who dreamt big, Jamuna Future Park being a prime example. He also defied conventional thinking — who else can launch Hunter, a homegrown Beer, in a deeply conservative country. And during a difficult time, when a lot of us gave up on tough reporting, he staunchly supported independent journalism. Rest in Peace, Sir. Your death is another sign a post-Covid Bangladesh will be different place with a lot of old guards dying or being rendered redundant.
