Staff Reporter :
Speakers at a civic condolence meeting on Monday recalled that journalist Mahfuz Ullah struggled to establish the freedom of the country’s people until the last day of his life.
He tried to establish the unity of the people for democracy, justice and raised voice against the autocracy. Although he dies, he will be alive in the desire for the freedom struggle of the people, they said.
The speakers came up of with the observation at a civic condolence meeting held at the Jatiya Press Club at 11:00am in memory of journalist Mahfuz Ullah.
Mahfuz Ullah died at a hospital in Thailand on April 27 last.
Leaders of different political parties, his fellow journalists, writers and intellectuals took part in the discussion. They prayed to Almighty Allah for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Mahfuz Ullah.
Dr. Akbar Ali Khan, a former adviser to the caretaker government, who chaired the function, in his speech said that he knew him (Mahfuz Ullah) for a long time. His personality was high and always spoke logically. He was a follower of democracy and certainly he believed in the sprit of democracy.
Despite difference in faith and political ideology he was equally responsible and respectable to his opponents’ faith and believes, Akbar Ali mentioned.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, Mahfuz Ullah tried to change society from student life. In journalism profession, he worked to make the country’s independence meaningful to consolidate democracy.
In the present difficult times when there is no democracy in the country, people have no right to speak, no right to express opinion he (Mahfuz Ullah) boldly spoke the truth, the BNP secretary general said.
“He was a critical critic of the BNP. He tried to awaken us. We were encouraged by him, his loss in this critical time will not be fulfilled,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
“We now have to work to bring the true spirit of the war of liberation in the country on its path, to restore true democracy, then the dream of Mahfuz Ullah will be fulfill,” he said.
Jatiya Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain said those who think of giving autocracy a permanent shape in Bangladesh are living in fool’s paradise as people will surely wake up like that of the 60s to resist it.
“Autocracy repeatedly tried to take a permanent shape in the country destroying democracy, but no one could do that. It’s a light of hope for us. As per my experience, I can give you a 100 percent guarantee that there’s no space in Bangladesh for autocracy,” he said.
“Mahfuz Ullah used to tell the truth boldly in his journalistic life despite present hard time. He will be the source of our inspiration,” Dr Kamal said.
ASM Abdur Rab said that there is no democracy in the country and people have no right to speak. There was a need for bold protests like Mahfuz Ullah, but he went away unexpectedly.
He said, there is currently an inhaling condition in the country. After voting by the police in the night, the police are now not willing to accept the MPs. SP’s told the MP that we made you MP, you did not make me SP.
Rab said like Mahfuz Ullah, we may also have to leave, that is why the need for united movement against fascism to finish the unfinished work of liberation war.
Barrister Mainul Hosein, a former adviser to the caretaker government, said that Mahfuz Ullah was an eminent journalist and his TV talk shows were a special attraction to many including me because of his smooth manner of speaking. His great quality was how to be highly critical without showing bitterness. He was a supporter of BNP but his personal belief was in sovereign nationalism.
Barrister Mainul termed emphatically a historical blunder for journalists joining party politics as activists and that if the professional journalists and lawyers did not become party activists then the political history would have been different.
In free Bangladesh the journalistic legacy of Manik Mia, Zahur Hossain Chowdhury and Abdus Salam was totally forgotten.
He expected the journalists as soldiers of the people’s freedom of speech must engage in fighting.
Bangladesh Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said Mahfuz Ullah was a brave and honest journalist who will remain alive with his many books and other works.
Menon said Mahfuz Ullah will also be remembered by people for a long time for his book titled ‘Purba Pakistan Chhatra Unioner Itihas’. “It’s his outstanding contribution to politics.”
Chief Editor of Daily Manabjamin Matiur Rahman Chowdhury said, “I was fortunate to bring Mahfuz Ullah Bhai in talk show. He used to speak logically.”
Mahfuz Ullah was a genius speaker of truth and justice, he said.
Dhaka University Professor Asif Nazrul said, Mahfuz Ullah was not loyal to any political party; he used to keep a balance in speaking.
Trustee of Gonosasthya Kendra Dr Jafullah Chowdhury said, the country lost to recognize professional.
Mafuj Ullah was a researcher and he started to write book on Osmani, he said.
Former Awami League Presidium Member Nuh-ul-Alam Lelin said, “Mahfuz Ullah and I was the same batch. Our political faith was different but we were both friendly.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna, convener of Nagorik Oikya, said Mahfuz Ullah respected others with his views.
BNP Standing Committee Members Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof. Emaz Uddin Ahmed, former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed, CPD Fellow Dr Mostafizur Rahman, former PSC chairman Dr Saadat Husain, former president of National Press Club Riaz Uddin Ahmed, Shawkat Mahmud, current president Saiful Alam, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, former professor of Jahangirnagar University Dilara Chowdhury, journalist Nabanti Chowdhury, brother of late Mahfuz Ullah and former professor of Economics Department of Dhaka University Mahbub Ullah, Mahfaj Ullah’s eldest daughter Musrrat Humayra Angona, among other, spoke on the occasion.
