We, in The Daily New Nation celebrate its 36th anniversary, keeping very much in mind our commitment that journalists can never remain silent and more so when the nation is in crisis. Journalism without a moral position is no journalism. The Daily New Nation has existed as a newspaper through which the nation talks to itself. We can say that all these years we have remained steadfast to our belief and obligation to uphold the democratic ways and democratic values so that we can organise ourselves politically as a democracy for which not only our past leaders but our people also struggled long and hard. Even fought the War of Liberation in 1971. Our efforts were directed to see that all such sacrifices of our people must not go in vain. We, in The New Nation, constantly remind ourselves that journalism is about the people’s voice to serve the people.Since the inception of Bangladesh, The New Nation, like our people, also has passed through crisis after crisis but as our readers will affirm that we have not cravenly deviated from our journalistic obligation to say what we felt right and when it was not possible to say what was right we did not support what was wrong. The founder of The New Nation was the renowned journalist, Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia who felt that side by side with his most popular Bengali Daily Ittefaq, the need of an English newspaper to project the hopes of the people of East Pakistan, what is now Bangladesh, was very important. Since then The New Nation has been pursuing his ideals and faith in a better future for our people. Manik Mia was conscious of the power of journalism as the fourth estate for the survival of democracy as the people’s rule. In free Bangladesh with renewed hope and determination, The New Nation reemerged first as a weekly and later as a daily. Because of the government’s displeasure, we had to fight our way upto the Supreme Court for getting the government’s clearance. It is known to all true and dedicated journalists that the press exists to guide the nation selflessly for what is good for the country and the people. Nothing makes people more disappointed and helpless when journalists cease to be independent journalists and choose to be busy as party activists. Democracy is dying in Bangladesh because journalism is dying as the fourth estate.On this occasion we most respectfully remember the eminent journalists Hasan Sayeed, Mahbubul Alam, Amanullah, ABM Musa, Alamgir Mohiuddin, Enamul Huq, Fazle Rasheed, Amanullah Kabir and Moazzem Hossain to name a few who worked hard to build the strength and character of The New Nation. Some of them have regrettably passed away, others are happily alive and active elsewhere. We also gratefully recognise the contribution of Motahar Hossain Siddiqui who till his death continued to serve most diligently The New Nation as its Publisher and Printer. We renew our pledge and reinforce our resolution to continue as the people’s friends and represent the people’s hopes and do our best to serve them in the best way we know. When the whole world is concerned about the crisis of violence and loss of lives, there are some who feel they shall remain merrily safe in power without election and without dialogue. We shall go on reminding that Bangladesh was born for democracy and let no one think otherwise.We have to prove we deserve better than being worshippers of lies and failures. We must be able to break loose the stranglehold of group interests to preserve the sovereignty of the people in all public affairs. As we know, democracy is not about the government only it is also about the people’s rights and their protection under the rule of law. No people are free unless they can secure for themselves free elections regularly. We announce boldly and assert strongly that the ‘occupation politics’ of Pakistan days must not be any more in free Bangladesh. – Publisher and Printer
