Veteran journalist and National Awami Party (NAP–Muzaffar) leader Mohammad Abdul Ali, popularly known as MA Ali, has passed away. A resident of the Shyamoli Residential Area in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar, he breathed his last at Ragib-Rabeya Medical College Hospital in Sylhet on Monday (December 29) at around 2:40pm while undergoing treatment. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, relatives, colleagues and a large number of admirers. During his student life at Moulvibazar College, MA Ali became involved in the politics of the then East Pakistan Students’ Union and later played an active role in NAP (Muzaffar), serving with dedication as president of Sreemangal Thana NAP in the post-1990 period. He spent a significant part of his life working in the Middle East and, upon returning home, re-engaged himself in business, politics and journalism. As a journalist, he worked for a long time as the Sreemangal correspondent of the daily Dinkal and Samachar, while many of his important and investigative reports were published with due prominence in the national daily Bhorer Kagoj, earning him recognition as a courageous and responsible journalist. He was also associated with various social and voluntary organisations, including serving as president of the Sreemangal Social Welfare Association, and was a founding former president of the Shyamoli Jame Mosque. His janaza will be held after Zuhr prayers today at Sreemangal Jame Mosque. His death has cast a pall of grief over the political, journalistic and social circles of Sreemangal and the wider Moulvibazar district.