There has been a tradition in Bangladesh to write obituary on the demise of renowned personalities of the country. Today I venture to write on Moyeenul Alam who had accomplished as reputed journalist in Bangla and English mediums, apart from being a teacher in journalism. Moyeenul Alam, 79, has been residing in Toronto, Canada, permanently -- far from home, home, sweet home of Chittagong.
Having obtained graduation Moyeenul Alam, son of renowned litterateur Mahbub Alam of Chittagong, joined English daily - the Eastern Examiner of Chittagong as Sub-editor in 1956 and having worked for 4 years he switched over to Daily Unity of Chittagong as News Editor. By that time Bengali Daily Ittefaq of Dacca was established as a progressive newspaper against Daily Azad of Maulana Akram Khan which generally served the interest of Muslim League in East Pakistan. Moyeenul Alam has shown interest to serve Daily Ittefaq from Chittagong as their correspondent. Having been impressed with his news items proprietor of the Daily Ittefaq Tofazzal Hossain alias Manik Miah had sent an appointment letter to Mr Moyeenul in May of 1960 as correspondent-cum-business representative. Daily Ittefaq gave him a Vespa Scooter to help his mobility. I recall to have travelled with him in a scooter to Chandragona to attend a press conference of Ahmad Daud, proprietor of Chandrogona Paper Mills and Rayon mill in 1964.
Moyeenul Alam also obtained diploma in news editing from International Press Institute in Zurich in 1964 and as trainer he obtained certificate from International Institute of Journalism in Berlin, Germany. Moyeenul also had the privilege to deliver lectures on theory of journalism and reporting in a number of universities of the United States of America in 1975. Possibly he was only journalist who was privileged to deliver lecture on journalism in the United States from an underdeveloped third world country. He addressed post-graduate students in Rutgers University and Columbia School of Journalism in Missouri. Moyeenul Alam was guest of the State department to cover summit meeting between Ronald Reagan, President of the United States and President Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union on 10 December of 1987 at Oval Office of the White House. On this historical meeting Moyeenul Alam brought out a book: Triumph in the afternoon. This summit meeting practically led to signing of a deal on reduction of overhead of nuclear weapons known as Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) in 1988 in Moscow which triggered severe criticism in United States.
As a journalist Moyeenul Alam travelled to the Philippines as a guest in 1974 and the United Kingdom in 1975, to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1985 and Japan in 1993. As a member of the four-member Bangladesh Press delegation led by Khurshed Alam, Secretary of Ministry of Information, Moyeenul Alam travelled to ASEAN countries in 1978. Incidentally, this writer received the delegation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when I was working as a diplomat in Bangladesh embassy in Kuala Lumpur and organised programmes for them to visit different newspaper offices, TV-Radio stations, and Bernama news agency. One of the members was Ferdousi Ali, Editor of a Khulna English daily newspaper. Another member was A M Mufazzal who is now Editor of the daily New Nation. For the delegation I hosted dinner at a hotel where editors from major newspapers, including Deputy Information Minister of Malaysia were present. On his return Secretary of Information Ministry wrote a letter to High Commissioner Major-General KM Safiullah thanking me for organizing excellent program for the press delegation.
While serving Daily Ittefaq as Bureau chief in 1970's Moyeenul Alam brought out Consumer Economist from Chittagong to which this writer was one of the contributors from 1973 to 1975. Moyeenul Alam also worked as Staff Correspondent of Pakistan Observer when Daily Ittefaq was closed down in June of 1969. Moyeenul Alam returned to Daily Ittefaq at the end of August as Bureau Chief when the newspaper reappeared.
Moyeenul Alam became member of the first Press Commission of Bangladesh and played a pioneering rule in compiling suggestions of the Press Commission. Moyeenul Alam was a guest speaker at Press Institute of Bangladesh to train journalists. He used to contribute to the New Nation of Ittefaq group.
While travelling to Toronto in Canada during Ramadan of 2013 I decided to call on Moyeenul Alam. He migrated to Canada in 1995. During the scheduled time in the afternoon of 28 July we called on him at his tenth floor single room apartment allocated to Senior Citizens of Canada. Having chit-chat in the drawing room I was surprised to witness another Moyeenul Alam who is transformed as an artist of oil painting. I noticed he was in the midst of drawing oil paintings. He gave brief of his becoming an artist. In 1985 Moyeenul Alam participated in painting exhibition in Paris in connection with celebration of French Revolution at the invitation of French government. In the eighteenth century French Revolution abolished French monarchy in favour of secular and democratic Republic of France.
Since I met Moyeenul Alam in December of 1963 when I joined radio journalism at Chittagong Radio station as a representative of Central News Organization of Pakistan, Karachi we have been maintaining our relations. Moyeenul is now 79 while I am reaching 73. He now lives in Toronto far from home, home sweet home of Chittagong but he confided to this writer that he is not missing beauty of Chittagong, a gateway to Bangladesh as he is fortunate to watch Lake of Ontario in the morning from his balcony which reminds him of Patenga Lake.
Mohammad Amjad Hossain is a retired diplomat from Bangladesh and freelance writer who writes from Virginia
Moyeenul Alam, a renowned journalist-teacher of our time
Mohammad Amjad Hossain | Published: August 22, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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