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Sazel Ahmed,

Founding President of Jalalabad Journalists Association in Dhaka, Editor and Publisher of online news portal Red Times.com, prominent researcher, politician, literary, cultural figure, former Vice President of Online News Portal Association, powerful poet of the eighties Soumitra Dev Titu, journalist Mohammad Makis Mansur, UK BD TV Managing Director Engr. Sheikh Nurul Islam, Finance Director Shah Shafi Qadir, and Cultural Director Helen Islam, along with other directors, expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the bereaved family and wished eternal peace to the deceased.

Stating that this name will always be remembered in the cultural and literary circles of Moulvibazar and Bangladesh, community personality Mohammad Makis Mansur, convener of Greater Sylhet Community UK and editor of Wells Bangla News, said in his condolence message, “My soulmate, a conscious human being, Soumitra Dev was a poet, journalist, cultural activist and above all a politically conscious person.

No longer will you see Titu walking with a gunny bag on his shoulder and a book in his hand, or sitting at the manager’s stall and chatting for a while, or sitting in the field with his friends and talking, or occasionally going to the Shilpakala Academy. Yet, in the poet’s words, “I will go away forever, but I will not let you forget me.”

The people of the cultural arena of Moulvibazar will never forget you,

In his condolence message, Mohammad Makis Mansur R. O., President of the Bangabandhu Memorial Foundation in the UK,

said,

After August 5, his loud presence on social media was noticeable. On March 7, he was the only person to protest by forming a human chain at the National Press Club in Dhaka to protest the ban on Bangabandhu’s speech. Poet Soumitra Deb was attacked for protesting on the street. Yet he did not stop. For many years, he has worked tirelessly for Bangabandhu, the country, the Liberation War and culture.

It is worth noting that journalist and poet Soumitra Deb Titu, who was born on July 27, 1970 in Moulvibazar city, had been suffering from asthma-related breathing problems for a long time.

On Tuesday, April 15, at 9:30 am, his physical condition suddenly deteriorated, and his wife Paula Deb took him to Kurmitola Hospital in Dhaka, where the doctor declared him dead. He was 54 years old at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, only son, and numerous relatives and admirers. A shadow of grief fell over Moulvibazar district when the poet’s body was brought to his birthplace, Moulvibazar. The funeral was held at the East Government High School grounds, adjacent to the local Shaheed Minar, where poets, artists, and cultural activists, along with people from various organizations and professions, paid their respects. The ‘Red Times’ family is deeply saddened by the untimely death of their beloved colleague and expresses its condolences to all his family. Later, his funeral was held at Sayarpur crematorium in Moulvibazar town at 7:30 pm.

Journalist and poet Soumitra Dev Titu studied at Moulvibazar Government High School, Moulvibazar Government College and National University. He earned a postgraduate diploma in journalism from Bangladesh Press Institute. Soumitra Dev Titu’s journalistic career began by writing for local newspapers in Sylhet and Moulvibazar. Later, he wrote as a contributor. After that, he worked as a journalist for the Daily Prothom Alo newspaper and served as an assistant editor for the Daily Manabjamin. He most recently served as the editor-in-chief and publisher of the national online news portal RedTimes.com.bd since 2009. He was also the founding president of Jalalabad Journalists Association Dhaka, vice-president of Bangladesh Online Media Association, life member of Jalalabad Association Dhaka, vice-president of Leela Nag Smriti Parishad (former committee), and advisor of Bangladesh Poets Club Moulvibazar district branch. In addition to journalism, Soumitra Dev Titu regularly wrote poems, short stories, travelogues, and essays. He was widely known as a poet. Several of his books have been published by Uts Prakash. His contribution to literature, journalism, and cultural circles is undeniable. The number of books published in his writing and editing is more than 42. This poet, trained in the Bangla Academy’s Young Writers’ Project, has written many poetry books including ‘Shamayitader Bari’. He also gained special fame in folk literature research for the book ‘Marami Kabi Hasan Raja and His Life Philosophy’. He has several publications on the well-known literary scholar Syed Mujtaba Ali. His notable poetry books are Ajabithi, Neel Krishnachura, Patharer Chokh etc. He received the Bangladesh Writers Foundation Medal in 2005 for his contribution to poetry. He was also honored by the Moulvibazar District Shilpakala Academy. He also had significant participation in films. This talented person, who received the National Film Award for his performance in the film ‘Nekabbarer Mahaprayan’, also acted in the film ‘Dakghar’. Apart from being a poet, journalist, and cultural activist, Soumitra Dev Titu was a politically conscious person.

He was elected as the nominated candidate of the Workers Party for the post of mayor in the Moulvibazar municipal election.

Contributor;Sazel Ahmed,Cardiff, Wales, UK,

3 May 2025 English,