Staff Reporter :The 47th death anniversary of legendary journalist and founder-editor of the Daily Ittefaq Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia was observed on Wednesday in a befitting manner. In the morning, leaders and workers of different organisations, groups, individuals, family members and journalists paid homage to his graveyard at Azimpur by placing wreaths and offering Fateha there. Journalists and employees of The New Nation held a Milad and Doa mahfil in the Ittefaq Bhaban after Zohr prayer. Among others, publisher of the paper Barrister Mainul Hosein attended the function. Besides, journalists and employees of daily Ittefaq also held a Milad and Doa mahfil at Baitul Jannat Aman Jame Mashjid after Zohr prayer at Kazlar Parh in Dhaka. Similar programmes were also held at the residences of Manik Mia’s younger son Anwar Hossain Manju and his elder daughter late Akhtarunnahar Baby. Meanwhile, the Manik Mia Foundation and Jatiya party (Manju) organized the discussion meetings on Manik Mia’s eventful life held in the city.Speakers at a discussion held in the auditorium of the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) highlighted the powerful writings of Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia saying that his writings inspired the nation for achieving independence of Bangladesh.They also recalled his contribution in the field of journalism.An uncompromising personality in journalism, Manik Mia raised his voice against all sorts of injustice, oppression and deprivation through his powerful writings, they added.The discussants also said Manik Mia, one of the leading votaries of democracy, who fought relentlessly against all odds and adversities for the emancipation of common people, never failed to use his mighty pen against oppression and violation of democratic and human rights.Jatiya party (Manju) organized the discussion with its Secretary General Sheikh Shahidul Islam in the chair.Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman and President of Jatiya Press Club Shafiqur Rahman, among others, addressed the discussion.The speakers gratefully recalled the glorious role of Tofazzal Hussain Manik Mia, a doyen in the field of journalism.Discussants in another discussion meeting held in the Ittefaq Bhaban in the city also sketched the eventful life of Manik Mia. They said Manik Mia is a symbol of protest against conspiracy and democracy and place intrigue. They also mentioned that Manik Mia played a vital role in the development of Bengali nationalism in 1960s and was one of the main architects the then East Pakistan’s autonomy movement based on Six Point. Manik Mia was a close companion of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardi and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Keeping in close touch with them he fought against military rule, autocracy and stark violation of political rights of the people. So his activism in the movement for democratic rights is clear-cut, they added. The discussion was organised by Manik Mia Foundation with Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Hoque in the chair.Prominent lawyer and politician Dr Kamal Hossain attended the discussion as the chief guest. President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, teachers of Dhaka University Prof Dr Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Syed Anwar Husain, Prof Golam Rahman remained present at the programme as panel discussants.The discussion was conducted by Syed Tosharaf Ali, Secretary General of Manik Mia Foundation. A memorable meeting, on the occasion, was also held at the National Press Club in the morning organised by Bangladesh Sangbadik Odhikar Forum.
