THE death of ABM Musa, who was an iconic figure as a journalist, columnist and in media editorial institutions with envious qualities of head and heart as a man and a professional, came as a big shock to the nation and particularly to the journalist community. He died on Wednesday at the age of 83. We mourn his death. He left behind a colourful career of six decades, mainly serving the media to slowly become a legendary figure to speak the bitter truth what most others were unable to speak in an era of tumultuous politics that Bangladesh saw over the four decades of its existence. Musa emerged as the most distinguished voice of the nation’s conscience in the past years, broadly keeping him above the dirty professional divide, through his columns and TV talk shows. He used his conscience to criticize the government– not more to embarrass it but more to demand sanity and democratic behaviours, protection of human rights and a free and fair election to ensure uninterrupted growth of democracy and the rule of law. He was equally critical to the failing of the opposition. Needless to say, the government was angry but not intolerant to him when people in similar situation saw the worst. ABM Musa died at a time when his presence was very important to the nation.
Born in 1930 at Fulgazi upazila in Feni district, he entered journalism as a young reporter of daily Insaf in 1950 and later moved to Pakistan Observer. When it was banned in 1952, he joined Dainik Sangbad and returned to Pakistan Observer when the ban was removed. He also worked for BBC and London based The Sunday Times during the Liberation War of Bangladesh and became the first Director General of BTV immediately after the liberation. Briefly elected as the member of Jatiya Sangsad, he returned to journalism again and worked as editor of The Morning News and The News Today. He also worked as the director of the UN Environmental Programme for Asia-Pacific region and later back to media to become the Director General of Bangladesh Press Institute and the Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) there after. He worked as the editor of the daily Jugantar in 2004 before went into final retirement, besides briefly working for The New Nation in its early days. Musa was also the founder of All Pakistan Union of Journalists and secretary general of the then East Pakistan Union of Journalists. As a founder member of Jatiya Press Club he was also four times president of the club.
ABM Musa is no more but we hold the view that his amicable behaviour and non-partisan outlook in these days of professional divide at all level will remain a source of inspiration to us to achieve professional excellence and ethical values in the days to come. He was like an octogenarian guardian to the nation and his absence can’t be filled so quickly. May Allah rest his soul in peace. Ameen.
