Amanullah Khan, founding chairman of United News of Bangladesh (UNB), passed away on Thursday. He was 80.

Also the chairman of Cosmos Group, Amanullah breathed his last around 5pm in the capital's United Hospital while undergoing treatment there due to old age complications.

He is survived by his wife, brothers, many close relatives, and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.

His namaz-e-janaza will be held after Jumma prayers on Friday at the Azad Masjid in Gulshan, after which he will be laid to rest at the Banani Graveyard.

Amanullah was a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh, having qualified as a chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan in 1969.

He was the founder chairman of UNB, the country's leading news agency established in 1988 with the Associated Press (AP) as its principal partner in news exchange.

Amanullah was also the chairman of Cosmos Printing and Publishing Limited, which publishes books, and the Dhaka Courier, the oldest surviving English newsweekly of Bangladesh.

Besides his professional engagements, he was known for contributing articles to national dailies and news magazine articles on a range of issues.

He was a member of the Commonwealth Journalists Association.

He attended numerous international conferences and seminars mainly in connection with the media organised by platforms such as the Commonwealth Press Union, Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies, AsiaNet, International Press Institute, and Asian Media Information and Communication Centre.

Amanullah Khan was also a keen member of different advocacy groups, such as ADHUNIK (National Anti-smoking Organization), and a life member of the Sandhani National Eye Donation Society.