Staff Reporter :Speakers at a discussion on Wednesday gratefully recalled the glorious role of Tofazzal Hossain Manilk Mia for his unflinching role against all sorts of injustice, oppression and deprivation through his bold writings. A doyen in the field of journalism, Manik Mia had fought throughout his life persistently against all odds and adversities for the emancipation of common people, they said. His very objective of journalism was perhaps the best to inform, educate and entertain the people of his beloved motherland, they said while taking part in the discussion on ‘Manik Mia’s eventful life’ at the Ittefaq Bhaban at 1 R.K Mission Road in the city. Manik Mia Foundation organised the discussion with Prof Dr Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque in the chair. Former adviser to the caretaker government and elder son of late Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia, Barrister Mainul Hosein gave the welcome address. Syed Tosharaf Ali, Secretary General of Manik Mia Foundation moderated the discussion. (See also Editorial Page)Paying tribute to late Tofazzel Hossain Manik Mia, the legendary journalist and founder-editor of the Daily Ittefaq, eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain hoped for a better future of Bangladesh.”I’m still hopping for the better future of Bangladesh as the soil and people of the country did never allow the autocracy to run. I’m calling upon the young generation to get united in a bid to make Bangladesh a happy and prosperous country,” Dr Kamal told the discussion. Narrating his memories of long association with Manik Mia, Dr Kamal said he (Manik Mia) used to present the brute rule and repression of the then Pakistan government to the common people in a very simple but sharp language. “By telling only about the development of the country, none could be able to cling to power. Our soil and people did never accept the autocrat. Since long we have been listening to the development of the country,” he said. Dr Kamak said Manik Mia’s main essence of journalism and political activities were boldness and devotion to the Bengali’s national interest.”As Manik Mia and his newspaper daily Ittefaq had played a vital role in achieving the country’s independence, the first cabinet after liberation took decision to name the road in front of the national parliament after him as Manik Mia Avenue and I had an opportunity to attend the meeting as a cabinet member,” he said. President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun and teachers of Dhaka University, Prof Syed Anwar Husain and Prof Golam Rahman also took part in the discussion. The speakers termed Manik Mia as one of the bright stars of the country, urging the new generations to take lesson from his biography in a bid to do good for the nation.Apart from the journalist, they said Manik Mia was also a politician but he was not doing politics for the political party but for the country.They said his (Manik Mia) main thoughts were freedom of individual speech and freedom of the press.They said Manik Mia was sent to jail with other political leaders as he had extended his strong support to the six-point through his writings in order to gear of the movement.Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque said Manik Mia had a mission to uphold the image of the people of the then Pakistan and to protect their rights.”Apart from journalism, he was also very conscious about the political activities of the then Pakistan. Without the help and role of Manik Mia and his newspaper, Bangabandhu couldn’t be a great leader of the country,” he said.Abul Kashem said a complete biography on Manik Miah should be published by the Bangla Academy so that the young generation would be able to know about him. Yusuf Hossain Humayun said when Bangabandhu used to face any political crisis, he (Banganadhu) used to go to him (Manik Mia) for advice. Prof Golam Rahman said Manik Mia was really a pearl (Manik) as he only worked for the people.”Now a day no newspaper has a mission to serve the people’s interest. They don’t have any challenge and dedication. But Manik Mia had taken the challenge only to protect the rights of the people of the then Pakistan,” he said.Quoting a headline ‘Birale Nurul Aminer Cokhe Mutia Dieche) of a post editorial by Manik Mia, Prof Syed Anwar Husain said as he was courageous only he had done this through his writings.
