Staff Reporter :
Barrister Mainul Hosein has expressed deep regards for the legendary journalist ABM Musa who is no more and said Musa and he were together MPs for Awami League in the past.
“He left behind a legacy of saying and writing bravely for the truth about the worsening situation in the country and discussed openly what should be rightly done. He did not believe in maintaining silence at a time of national crisis,” Barrister Mainul said while speaking at a “memorial meeting and open discussion” in observance of 84th birth day of veteran journalist ABM Musa at Jatiya Press Club in the city on Saturday.
In his written speech Barrister Mainul pointed out that as because, except a very few, journalists, lawyers and teachers in general are now engaged as party activists of either BNP or Awami League, democracy is facing the crisis. There are no independent forces to defend democracy independently. It is for this weakness of the members of civil society they are unable to play their due role forcefully.
Barrister Mainul empathetically said that journalists concern themselves with politics, the only difference is that they do not do party politics. So Musa’s or any journalist’s life cannot be discussed without the context of politics and his political role.
Referring to the country’s tragic situation in which people are killed in violence and counter violence Barrister Mainul said it cannot be enough to be shocked and saddened when the solution lies within our easy reach.
He explained that whatever one may say about many other things now happening but it cannot be denied that demand for fresh election is the cause of the current crisis and others may be exploiting the issue to make things more dangerous.
Without blaming any party or the government, he just reminded the audience of the Prime Minister’s promise for holding a fresh election saying optimistically that the solution is available to the Prime Minister and for this no dialogue with anybody is necessary.
Barrister Mainul concluded by highlighting that such contradiction cannot be honestly accepted that the country is free but the people are refused democratic rights. The country belongs to all and we must learn to live together. Bangabandhu’s efforts were to unite the people.
Prime Minister’s Press Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, veteran journalist Amanullah Kabir, editor of News Today Riazuddin Ahmed, editor of Manab Zamin Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, CEO of Baishakhi TV Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Dhaka University Professor Asif Nazrul, vice president of National Press Club Kazi Rawnak Hossain, journalist Abdur Rahim, Golam Mortuza and Ruma Musa [daughter of ABM Musa], among others, also took part in the discussion.
Presided over by Syed Abul Maksud, the discussion was moderated by Rubaiyat Ferdous where ABM Musa’s wife Setara Musa was also present.
PM’s adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said, “ABM Musa had accomplished the duty of journalism with courage and responsibility. He never feared to say the truth. If he had to oppose anything, it was also based on facts.”
“Here, we haven’t come to ignite any kind of debate. And so, we are not discussing his political life in this meeting. It will make ABM Musa controversial, if we discuss politics in his memorial discussion,” he said.
But turning down the negative approach, eminent journalist Amanullah Kabir said: “It is almost impossible to avoid politics during a discussion on the life of a journalist. It is because; the journalists usually do their jobs through the political incidents. Presently, no one is journalist at all…everybody is a political activist.”
Urging to overcome present crisis through dialogue, he further said: “One group is facing another group with firearms. There is only one difference, some have got license of using arms, and some do not have the license.”
“There must be a bloodshed if one tries to counter guns by using firearms. The solution must come through discussion table. We are seeing in our own eyes what is going to happen… if anyone tries to get a solution from outside the table. The consequence is in front of us… Here, the murder of Avijit Roy may be an example,” Amanullah Kabir said.
Expressing severe frustration, Manab Zamin editor Motiur Rahman Chowdhury said, “The politicians will not be able to make any headway to overcome political standoff. Only the journalists had the capability to solve the crisis.”
“But is there any single journalist who can tell both the leaders [Hasina and Khaleda]–‘enough is enough’! The sick partisan mentality has swallowed us all. I may also accused in similar fault as I’m not saying which is right and which is wrong,” he stated.
Terming ABM Musa as the ‘lighthouse’ of journalism, journalist leader Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul said: “We are holding discussion on ABM Musa here. But the discussion meeting over Musa Bhai should be held under the auspices of National Press Club.”
DU Professor Asif Nazrul said: “Not only the journalists, we all have now become one-eyed men. All of our sense, feeling and consideration have blocked. Many are now criticizing Mahmudur Rahman Manna along with attacking the civil society. But if anyone wants to criticize Manna Bhai, he should criticize a ‘political Manna’. He had done politics for his entire life…”
“Where the politics has gone now! A politician like Manna says there is no problem if 2/3 persons are killed for igniting a movement!! But the criticism of Manna do not fit with them those who had grabbed power through capturing student halls or killing people,” he added.
An Ekushey Padak winner journalist, ABM Musa had served four times as the President of the National Press Club. Starting career with the Daily Insaf in the ’50s, Musa later worked with the then Pakistan Observer as Reporter, Sports Reporter and News Editor respectively.
During the country’s War of Independence, he was acclaimed as War Correspondent for sending reports from the battlegrounds to BBC, Sunday Times and other international news agencies.
After the liberation war victory, he joined BTV as its Director General and later went on to serve the Morning News as its Editor. ABM Musa was also the Managing Director and Chief Editor of the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha from 1981 to 1985.
