the significance of the country's independence and its message to both home and abroad. The English language was necessary to transmit the ideals of our independence war and the message of its founding father. There was huge anti-Bangladesh propaganda to destabilize the newly independent Bangladesh and to malign its founding father. In the-then East Pakistan there were two English newspapers-The Pakistan Observer and Morning News. Both papers were discredited among the public because of their controversial roles during the war of independence. Both the owners of these two papers fled to Pakistan during the war of independence.
His paper was getting response from the readership but his untimely death brought another editor whose policy was dubious. He defined his policy as neutral. Very soon a new Bangla daily joined this newspaper group. But the need of an English newspaper which will advance the causes of the newly independent country was sorely felt. Then a business group, Beximco Media Complex came forward to publish an English daily to reflect the success of the country in overcoming the insurmountable problems and keep its democracy afloat.The Independent, still upholding the values of independence
When Britain,
one of the most
developed countries could not tackle the vicious knife crimes for the last one
year, Bangladesh
government has
successfully tackled the continuous street violence and the killing of bloggers
Abdul Gaffar Choudhury
Our independence day and the first day of publication of the newspaper The Independent did not coincide by chance. This 26th March Bangladesh is observing its 48th independence day. The country needed an English Daily, which would reflect the significance of the countrys independence and its message to both home and abroad. The English language was necessary to transmit the ideals of our independence war and the message of its founding father. There was huge anti-Bangladesh propaganda to destabilize the newly independent Bangladesh and to malign its founding father. In the-then East Pakistan there were two English newspapers-The Pakistan Observer and Morning News. Both papers were discredited among the public because of their controversial roles during the war of independence. Both the owners of these two papers fled to Pakistan during the war of independence.
These two papers were in crisis and continued their publication for some time under government management, but they lost their readership and eventually stopped publishing. Bangladesh had many popular Bangla newspapers but needed an English one to focus on the new-born countrys struggles and successes. A renowned Bangladeshi journalist S.M. Ali came back to Bangladesh from abroad and took the initiative with the help of a business group to publish an English newspaper. His paper was getting response from the readership but his untimely death brought another editor whose policy was dubious. He defined his policy as neutral. Very soon a new Bangla daily joined this newspaper group. But the need of an English newspaper which will advance the causes of the newly independent country was sorely felt. Then a business group, Beximco Media Complex came forward to publish an English daily to reflect the success of the country in overcoming the insurmountable problems and keep its democracy afloat.
The paper first came out on 26th March, 1995 coinciding with our 24th independence day. It took the name The Independent. With this name the paper assured its readers that although it will be dedicated to support the ideals of the war of independence, in publishing news and expressing views it will remain totally independent. The long time editor of this daily was a renowned journalist, Mahbubul Alam. He has great contribution in Bangladesh journalism and in the countrys politics. In a very great political crisis of the country he was a member of the caretaker government, headed by President Iajuddin and tried his best to keep the whimsical and partisan president in the right path. When he failed he came back to his old position as the editor of The Independent and took a strong position during the transition from autocracy to democracy. The Independent had a definite role to shape the democratic politics of Bangladesh under his editorship.
Mahbubul Alam was a great friend of mine. He introduced me to English journalism and I started to write a column in The Independent. This daily has given me full freedom to express my views. The untimely death of Mahbubul Alam was a great loss to the journalism of the whole country. He is no more, but the paper has kept alive his guidance and I have also kept my contact with the daily getting the same support and cooperation from the present editorial staff also. Its standard can be compared to the newspapers of developed countries. The Independent has no duplicity policy-wise. Now there are many English dailies in the country, but The Independent is different from some of them who have the mask of the so-called neutrality and has strong commitment towards the basic ideals of the countrys founding father. I have already mentioned earlier that The Independent is really independent in publishing news and expressing views on the national and international events.
When some other English dailies are anti-government in disguise and publish news in a way to serve their own purposes, The Independent publishes news without mixing any untruth to mislead its readers. During the student movement for road safety, we have seen the dubious roles of the some so-called neutral newspapers. Recently in an article in The Guardian, the famous columnist Jonathan Freedland wrote in relation to the great tragedy in New Zealand that irresponsible and provocative journalism and their patron politicians are responsible for the worldwide terrorism. He asked people to confront these media and political persons who are nothing but hate preachers. I can say that in Bangladesh The Independent is not among those newspapers who are hate preachers. These hate preachers are also responsible for spreading untrue and irresponsible news.
Not only Bangladesh but most developed countries in the world like America, Britain and France are now going through a period of turmoil. Brexit problem has divided Britain and its economy is stuttering. Donald Trumps presidency is enough to ruin Americas unity, power and world leadership. France is affected by continuous strikes and other problems. Whether Indias Modi would survive the next election with his Hindutva is a big question. But Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina, who has remained in power for consecutive 4 terms has achieved economic development and political stability.
When Britain, one of the most developed countries could not tackle the vicious knife crimes for the last one year, Bangladesh government has successfully tackled the continuous street violence and the killing of bloggers. Political instability has been successfully removed from the country and social justice is gradually coming back in public life. Bangladeshs economic growth has surpassed India according to Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. Bangladesh is no more a consumer society and its export is also growing speedily. The poverty among people is being effectively fought and flood and famine have also been controlled successfully. Bangladesh has many serious problems but if this democratic rule and system continue in the future it will no doubt be a developing country in Asia very soon.
People should know about these progress of the country and its numerous problems also and how to face it through responsible and truthful journalism. At the present time media has almost equal constructive and destructive power like an atomic bomb. Atomic power can be used for the peaceful development of a country and it can also create havoc and destruction through misuse. Some printing and electronic media in Bangladesh are influenced by this destructive journalism. It is good that journalism in Bangladesh is now gradually coming out from the irresponsible journalism of the past autocratic era and taking an increasingly constructive role to help the advancement of the country and its people. The Independent is one of the newspapers among them, taking a great role in making democratic Bangladesh with its good and patriotic journalism.
London, Monday 18 March, 2019
