We deeply mourn the 50th death anniversary of Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia today, who was a towering personality in the country’s media and worked hard for freedom of speech and expression. His life-long struggle was to establish people’s rights. Side by side, his courageous role to establish the unity of the people for democracy and justice was remarkable. The pioneer of country’s journalism Manik Mia, founder-editor of The Daily Ittefaq, also had fought against all odds throughout his career as an editor, publisher and political philosopher. The Ittefaq under the editorship of Manik Mia was completely a different era.
Manik Mia gave up party politics to be independent as journalist and in free Bangladesh journalists are divided as party activists of two major political parties. The journalists are not a source of independent journalism being active party followers and in consequence the journalists are far from being the fourth pillar of democracy. BKSAL one party rule was easily established with the cooperation of journalists happily denying the press freedom. Unfortunately the journalists at a major part of the conspiracy against democracy and press freedom. It is not possible to have meaningful discussion on Manik Mia when journalism in Bangladesh has become subservient party politics.
It is the time for the young media generation to take lesson from the life and works of Manik Mia. But unfortunately, today’s journalism is not for restoring democracy but for supporting autocracy. Today’s journalism is not for protecting people’s rights for they have strong loyalty to undemocratic party politics.
Journalists are divided in many sects in line with their political loyalties like the political workers. It is regrettable we have so easily forgotten Manik Mia and others of his time who fought and suffered for independence of the press. The government also does not take seriously party activist journalists when they talk of the press freedom. The painful truth is the journalists have lost their power and dignity as journalists because they have chosen to be party activists.
Manik Mia gave up party politics to be independent as journalist and in free Bangladesh journalists are divided as party activists of two major political parties. The journalists are not a source of independent journalism being active party followers and in consequence the journalists are far from being the fourth pillar of democracy. BKSAL one party rule was easily established with the cooperation of journalists happily denying the press freedom. Unfortunately the journalists at a major part of the conspiracy against democracy and press freedom. It is not possible to have meaningful discussion on Manik Mia when journalism in Bangladesh has become subservient party politics.
It is the time for the young media generation to take lesson from the life and works of Manik Mia. But unfortunately, today’s journalism is not for restoring democracy but for supporting autocracy. Today’s journalism is not for protecting people’s rights for they have strong loyalty to undemocratic party politics.
Journalists are divided in many sects in line with their political loyalties like the political workers. It is regrettable we have so easily forgotten Manik Mia and others of his time who fought and suffered for independence of the press. The government also does not take seriously party activist journalists when they talk of the press freedom. The painful truth is the journalists have lost their power and dignity as journalists because they have chosen to be party activists.
