Staff Reporter :
Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia spent his entire life fighting against yellow journalism and exploitation of the people, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on the occasion of Manik Mia’s 52nd death anniversary on Tuesday.
The Information Minister was speaking at a programme titled “Great Liberation War: Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia and the role of the daily Ittefaq” organised by Independent Newspaper Readers’ Association at the Jatiya Press Club.
He said, once there was a limited number of newspapers in former East Pakistan. But people used to mean the “Daily Ittefaq” when they spoke of newspapers. It was a very popular paper. Ittefaq’s popularity grew as Manik Mia wrote against disparity perpetrated by Pakistani rulers.
The minister said, Manik Mia’s apt, sharp and relentless writings had contributed to Bangladesh’s independence.
“While celebrating 50 years of independence of Bangladesh I am placing my heartiest gratitude to the pioneer of journalism in Bangladesh and the visionary of the independence Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia”, the minister remarked.
SM Jamal Uddin moderated the programme where Sayed Tosaraf Ali, editor of weekly Robbar and M. Nasirul Haque shared their views on Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia.
On 1st June1969, Manik Mia, the epitome of democracy, a relentless fighter for the cause of Bengali nationalism and founder Editor of the Daily Ittefaq, breathed his last at the age of 58.
