Mahbubul Alam: Gone, but not forgotten
by Sir Frank Peters
Theres an old saying out there that says, out of sight, out of mind, but thats not always true.
Take Mahbubul Alam, as an example. The first anniversary of the death of this former Independent editor and doyen of the Bangladesh newspaper industry is June 6, but for reasons I cannot explain hes never really left my thoughts. It would seem hes made permanent residency in a small corner of my brain and he flashes a torch from time to time just to let me know hes there.
Its not as if Mahbubul and I had been the closest of friends. An editors hectic lifestyle doesnt permit such luxury. Friends, most definitely, but not close by the yardstick I use. We were regularly dining buddies, caffeine takers and electronic communicators and such like. Nevertheless, I would like to think when he died on Friday, June 6, 2014, that he regarded me as a friend, as I did he.
Mahbubul was the first Bangladeshi newspaper editor I had the pleasure of meeting some 20-years ago on my first visit to Bangladesh and my admiration for him was instant. My opinion then, as it is now, is that he was a consummate professional and a gentleman in every respect. A person would find it hard to impossible to dislike him.
We met countless times over the double-decade and each time was a pleasure (for me at least!). Together we solved many of the problems facing Bangladesh (as Editors do) over a cup of hot sugarless coffee and salted biscuits.
What I particularly enjoyed during our tte--tte was his frankness and willingness to call a spade a spade and serve his opinions hot without even a hint of sugar coating, apologies, or excuses.
Mahbubul stood out: a giant among giants, a gentleman among gentlemen and a man of considerable knowledge and experience in many fields.
To say his office door was always open to his staff is an understatement. I cant recall his office actually having a door! I do remember trying to fire sentences (sometimes frustratingly) at him as dozens of emails flashed on the computer screen to his left him by the minute, while on his right incessant musical pings announced the arrival of new SMSs on his two mobile phones and the Nokia themes screaming exasperatingly for attention on both.
Born in 1936 in Munshiganj, Mahbubul started his career in journalism with Associated Press of Pakistan in 1957. He spoke fondly of those years and viewed them as his teething years in journalism that gave his career solid foundation and he becoming one of the founding fathers of journalism in Bangladesh. He became a recipient of the Atish Dipankar Gold Medal for his contribution to Journalism, but there should have been a lot more.
After a long and successful career in the profession, he capped his reliable and trusted Parker fountain pen for the last time and went into retirement on October 19, 2013. He had served The Independent as the editor for 18 years, a lifetime to some in the profession.
His successful career in journalism spanned over 50 years. He was editor of the weekly Dialogue (1992-1995), chief editor and managing director of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (1987-1989), and editor of The New Nation (1986-1987).
In addition to those, he held various positions in the government. He was ambassador of Bangladesh to Bhutan (1983-1986) and director general, External Publicity Wing and spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs (1980-1983). He served as press councillor (1976-1978) at the Bangladesh high commission in London, as press councillor at the Bangladesh embassy in Washington (1978-1980) and as press minister at the embassy of Bangladesh in Washington DC with the rank and status of an ambassador (1989-1992). He was an Adviser to the caretaker government in 2007.
Mahbubul also served as a member of the governing body of the Press Institute of Bangladesh (1980-1983), a member of the National Press Club in Washington DC (1989-1992), Bangladesh Press Council, and during the 1980s, as honorary secretary, Bangladesh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Moreover, he lectured on Bangladesh affairs at different universities in America, including the University of Wisconsin, New York State University and the University of Michigan.
Perhaps why I remember Mahbubul so often, its because it was he who encouraged me to write about corporal punishment in Bangladesh schools. I had just returned from a village near Gazipur where two young boys (Rajowl Karim and Oli Ullah) had told me horrific stories about corporal punishment in their school. Oli had been beaten so badly he never returned to school again. It was shameful that an uneducated bully had stolen the childs opportunity of education from him and that society had accepted this behaviour as normal.
I requested Mahbubul to assign a journalist to highlight the plight of the children in the schools and madrasas. The lovable rascal (you can be that and a gentleman as well!) turned the tables on me and told me he would only run the story if I were to write it! What began as a single report snowballed into a fully blown campaign with most (not all) English-language newspapers and online news websites coming onboard giving much-appreciated support.
When Justice Md. Imman Ali and Justice Md. Sheikh Hasan Arif outlawed corporal punishment in Bangladesh schools and madrassas on January 13, 2011, Mahbubul and I celebrated. We did not delude ourselves into thinking the law itself was going to prevent atrocities in the classrooms, only some. You cant teach an old dog new tricks, he said in a wise, fatherly manner, but you can break the cycle for the benefit of up-and-coming generations. Together were still trying.
Mahbubul Alam (1936 2014), husband, father, scholar, distinguished writer, diplomat, and doyen of the Bangladesh press, consummate professional, gentleman, patriot, and friend who will always have a home in my heart.
Gone but not forgotten Mahbubul is survived by his widow and three daughters for whom I pray Allah will watch over and protect. It was my privilege and pleasure to know him.
