Hummingbird News Desk
KOLKATA, 16 MAY: Eminent journalist and Bengali news channel ZEE 24 Ghanta editor Anjan Bandyopadhyay, who tested positive for Covid-19 around a month ago, died at a private hospital in Kolkata on Sunday night.
He was 56.
Bandyopadhyay, a popular TV anchor, breathed his last at around 9.25 pm, the channel announced.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of the journalist, who is the brother of the state chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay. West Bengal Governor, Jagdeep Dhankar expressed deep sorrow over his death. “Stunned and saddened at untimely demise of Anjan Bandyopadhyay editor @Zee24Ghanta @ZeeNews. Cruel hand of destiny has snatched at young age a man full of simplicity. He leaves a void in journalism not easy to fill. Pray Almighty to bestow eternal peace on departed soul,” Governor tweeted.
Journalists, political leaders and others on social media expressed their grief at the news, and talked about how well-respected and liked Bandyopadhyay was.
According to family sources, the TV anchor had tested positive for Covid-19 in mid-April following which he was hospitalised.
“He had returned home after recovering a bit, but was again taken to the hospital after his condition deteriorated.
He was put on a ventilator and then on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support, but his condition continued to deteriorate,” sources said.
The news left the media fraternity in Kolkata and districts in a state of shock and disbelief as the well-known journalist became a latest victim of the devastating second wave of Covid-19.
A journalist whose career spanned over three decades, he had begun his professional journey with Ananda Bazar Patrika. Later he worked with Zee group, ETV Bangla and Ananda Bazar group digital section (ABP Digital) before returning to Zee again very recently.
An alumnus of the prestigious Presidency College, he had majored with Bengali and then did his Masters in the same subject with a first class first honour.
