We observed the 53rd death anniversary of the greatest legend in the realm of journalism in Bangladesh — Tofazzal Hossain, popularly known as Manik Mia on Wednesday (June 01, 2022). He died of a sudden heart attack on this day in 1969 at the age of 58 while he was on a professional trip to Rawalpindi, then West Pakistan. He is a symbol of protest against conspiracy to destroy democracy and palace intrigue.
Indisputably, Manik Mia was a fearless and uncompromising journalist. He did not take journalism as a livelihood or a simple profession, but a unique opportunity to fight for rights of the people and against wrongs done to the people. His conviction was that democracy is the answer to end arbitrary government of repeated martial laws dominated by West Pakistan army. He wanted Bengalis to be conscious of their democratic rights so that they can walk talk with heads high.
Under his pen name “Musafir”, which was his most popular identity, Manik Mia wrote his columns. No other column in the history of Bangladesh to this day had been so politically so bold in opposing injustices against the people of East Pakistan and as a solution he advocated democracy.
He was one of the founders of the Awami League. But for the sake of unbiased freedom of the professional journalism he left the Awami League. But as a disciple of Huseyn Shahid Suhrawardy, and for his own conviction he remained true to the ideals of democracy. The entire struggle of the Awami League under the leadership of Suhrawardy was for democracy. Bangabandhu was his devoted follower and respected him most. After the death of his leader and creation of Bangladesh he eventually changed the course of politics of the present Awami League. During the time of Suhrawardy without the ideals of democracy the Awami League was unthinkable.
In Bangladesh, surprisingly even journalism has changed. The journalists have become party activists like in revolutionary politics. They still talk about freedom of the press while committed to party politics. Manik Mia relinquished founding membership of Awami League to maintain his freedom as professional journalist, though he continued to support the democratic cause of the Awami League but not as a party member.
