Dhaka, Oct. 4 -- I was deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend, Toufique Imrose Khalidi.

Toufique was a pioneering journalist and editor who played an important role in shaping digital journalism in Bangladesh. But beyond his professional achievements, I will remember him as a friend -- someone with whom I could share ideas, have frank conversations and, sometimes, challenge the conventional way of thinking.

One conversation around 2007 remains particularly memorable to me.

At the time, I suggested to Toufique that bdnews24.com should introduce a recipe page featuring my recipes.

He looked at me and said: "But this is a news site."

I understood his point. Recipes were not what people traditionally associated with a news orga...