A. Z. M. Enayetullah Khan: A reminiscence
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Md. Shaheduzzaman
MY father used to subscribe and read the then Pakistan Observer (later The Bangladesh Observer), the weekly Holiday and the Reader's Digest in particular. It was on his insistence that I started reading newspapers in my High School days. And by the time I was in the 9th Grade of High School, I developed a passion for the weekly Holiday, though most of the words used in the write-ups of Mr. A.Z.M. Enayetullah Khan were unfamiliar to me at that age of mine. I used to take almost the whole week looking up his words in the dictionary and trying to comprehend his write-ups by repeated reading. Around that time, I felt an urge to enrich my knowledge in English language and was inspired to match Mr. Enayetullah Khan's vocabulary which I am yet to do. Subsequently, I cherished to meet Mr. Enayetullah some day and pursue a career in journalism.
In 1972, 1 got an opportunity to work as an apprentice Sub-Editor of Bangla daily Dainik Bangladesh published from Bogra, when I had to mostly translate the English version nres published in national and international news (received through tele-printer)to Bangla. Subsequently, I worked as an apprentice Staff Reporter of the daily. In 1975, 1 was appointed as Rajshahi University Correspondent of The Bangladesh Times. Mr. A.Z.M. Enayetullah Khan was then its Editor. Subsequently, I was appointed one of the Staff Correspondents of the daily.
I have not been in the profession of journalism ever since I resigned as an a Staff Correspondent of The Bangladesh Times in 1982. Neither have I been able to be in regular contact with the journalist community due to my preoccupation as a Business Executive. So, it was my nephew Riad Hasan, who phoned me immediately after listening to the BBC radio news on 10th November, 2005 evening to inform me about the demise of the weekly Holiday Editor-in-Chief and the daily New Age Editor Mr. Enayetullah Khan. Riad, who has just completed his MBA from the Dhaka University and is an admirer of Mr. Enayetullah Khan, was aware of my great admiration for Mr. Khan.
I hardly missed the write-ups by Mr. Enayetullah Khan. And, from the press reports, I was aware of Mr. Khan's illness and his on-going treatment in Canada. But, as he used to send write-ups from his sick-bed in Canada for his newspapers in Dhaka, I was under the impression that he was recovering slowly but steadily and would return to Dhaka fully cured in near future. So, the news of his demise came to me as a bolt from the blue and I was deeply saddened. As instantaneous reaction, I lamented : "Alas, the great people don't live at least a century! The titan has left when the country needed him the most." I told Riad : "I am going to buy all the leading national dailies tomorrow to know the reactions, feelings and sentiments of the people who used to admire Mr. Enayetullah Khan and also of those who were his critics." Next day, I did buy the newspapers and was overwhelmed to read the instantaneous reaction of The Daily Star Editor Mr. Mahfuz Anam, who apparently had political and ideological differences with Mr. Enayetullah but rose above all the differences to give the latter what he well deserved. Mr. Anam duly branded Mr. Enayetullah Khan as the 'icon' of journalism and commented: "He was by far the best among us."
I recall, in mid- 1970s, a foreign journal (I do not remember its name) had branded Mr. Enayetullah Khan as "one of the best political writers in South-East Asia." Obviously, Mr. Khan also emerged as one of the best journalists in South-East Asia in the contemporary period.
Since last few days, I have been feeling an ever-increasing urge to write something about late Mr. A.Z.M. Enayetullah Khan. But being aware of his professional and human qualities, I am in a dilemma of what to write about the great son of the soil who had multi-dimensional talents and succeeded in every career he had pursued.
All through his life, Mr. Enayetullah Khan had been committed and consistent to the ethics, ideals and practices of objective journalism. He pursued journalism with extraordinary courage and honesty. He did not hesitate to write the naked truth. He was not only one of the pioneers, but also a trend-setter in English journalism in the country. Writing to him was a passion and not merely a profession. He could produce a master-piece write-up within no time. Over the time, he had become an idol in the domain of journalism, In fact, Mr. A.Z.M. Enayetullah Khan and journalism, particularly English journalism in Bangladesh had become synonymous.
Mr. Enayetullah was a patriot, broad minded and magnanimous. He was, above all, a nationalist who loved his country and the people. He never compromised with secular democratic principles. He was bold against any kind of religious fundamentalism in politics.
During past several years, I happened to meet Mr. Enayetullah Khan on several occasions particularly in the diplomatic parties in Dhaka. I noticed him to be the centre of attraction in all parties and the social gatherings. The host and the invitees used to gather around him to hear his views on national and international issues. People used to be impressed apparently by his personality, knowledge, making a point and way of talking.
Although Mr. Enayetullah had political and ideological differences with many, they have, after his death, risen above all the differences to give him the respect and the love that he earned and deserved. He will live on in the hearts of his readers, associates and admirers. I pray that the Holiday and the New Age founded by him, survive for ever to keep his memories alive and as reminders of his contributions to the country, the people and the journalism. I am optimistic that the journalist community as a whole, will carry forward the mission for welfare of the country, the people, the freedom of expression and the dignity of journalism for which Mr. Enayetullah fought all his life.
To pay my tribute to late Mr. Enayetullah Khan, or Mintu Bhai, the name by which he was popularly known, I would like to reminisce a memory:
It was in 1976, about a week ahead of the historic Farakka Long March. I was then the Rajshahi University Correspondent of The Bangladesh Times and President of the Rajshahi University Journalists' Association. I phoned Mintu Bhai, then Editor of The Bangladesh Times at his office in Dhaka to know whether he would come to Rajshahi on the occasion of the Farakka Long March. He sounded very excited and enthusiastic. He told me he would arrive at Rajshahi at least a couple of days before the long march would start.
Mintu Bhai, accompanied by his good friend Mr. Anwar Hossain Monju, Editor of the daily "Ittefaq," arrived at the Rajshahi Circuit House in the afternoon of the appointed day. I, together with The Bangladesh Times Rajshahi Correspondent Mr. Anjum Ferdous, received Mintu Bhai at the Circuit House. He was in his traditional khaddar punjabi and jeans trouser. His punjabi was completely drenched by his sweat as he had personally driven his car all the way from Dhaka to Rajshahi. But he was so excited and enthusiastic that, to my surprise, without taking any food or rest after such a long drive, Mintu Bhai told me : "Now I would like to call on Maulana Shaheb (Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani) and then visit the marchers wherever they have gathered in the city to take part in the historic Farakka Long March, I want you to lead me."
I, together with Mr. Anjum Ferdous and the driver, drove straight to the Advocate's residence (I do not remember the Advocate's name) in a jeep provided exclusively for The Bangladesh Times team by the Rajshahi District Administration to cover the Farakka Long March. Mintu Bhai, accompanied by Mr. Anwar Hossain Monju, followed us in his car. After meeting Maulana Shaheb, we all visited each and every place where the excited and enthusiastic marchers from all over the country had gathered. An excited and enthusiastic Mintu Bhai talked to the marchers and enquired about their feelings and sentiments in respect of the ensuing long march.
At night, when we all returned to the Circuit House, Mintu Bhai sounded and looked even more excited and enthusiastic about the long march scheduled to start after a couple of days following a mammoth public meeting at the Rajshahi Madrasa Maidan to be addressed by Maulana. Bhasani. I could sense the highest degree of patriotism of Mintu Bhai. He spoke mostly of patriotism.
Meanwhile, The Bangladesh Times team from Dhaka, comprising Special Correspondent Amin Ahmed Chowdhury, Assistant Editor Mustafa Jasim Ahmed and Senior Staff Photographer Rafiqur Rahman, arrived at Rajshahi to cover the long march. The Bangladesh Times team was the biggest among the local and foreign media teams to cover the long march. Apparently, this was because of the importance Mintu Bhai, as the Times Editor, had attached to the Farakka Long March - a historic event drawing international attention.
As planned by Mintu Bhai, the Times team from Dhaka left Rajshahi city early next morning for a visit to the Bangladesh-India border areas. They returned to the city in the afternoon and reported their findings to Mintu Bhai, who asked them to write the news story and send it telegraphically to the Times Dhaka office with a note that "The Editor has okayed this." Mintu Bhai, being the competent Editor of the state-run national daily, was sure that the daily's News Editor in Dhaka office would need the Editor's approval to publish the sensitive news story that it was.
The next day's issue of The Bangladesh Times carried on the front page an exclusive news item titled "India amasses troops along border" to the envy of all other local and foreign media representatives who had gathered at Rajshahi to cover the Farakka Long March, but apparently did not conceive the idea of making such a news item.
Though Mintu Bhai was the Editor of The Bangladesh Times, his feelings and magnanimity were not limited to the Times staffers only. In fact, he had strong feelings and sentiments for the journalist community as a whole. This was duly demonstrated when, learning that no transport was available for the Dainik Bangla staffers, who had gathered at Rajshahi to cover the long march, Mintu Bhai urged me to let the Dainik Bangla staffers share the jeep earmarked for the Times team.
On the Farakka Long March day, Maulana Bhasani addressed a mammoth public meeting at the Rajshahi Madrasa maidan prior to leading the long march. Sensing that most of the marchers were in a mood to march to the "Farakka Barrage" itself, located in the Indian territory, the Maulana, in his address, made it absolutely clear that the long march would continue only up to the border and definitely not beyond the Bangladesh. territory. He warned the marchers not to infiltrate into the Indian territory. The meeting over, the march led by the Maulana, started.
Mintu Bhai and the Times team had covered the march and returned to Rajshahi Circuit House in the evening. After washing his face and having a cup of tea, Mintu Bhai told me: "Shahed, go to Atiq (Atiqul Alam of BBC) and tell him that I have requested him to give me his typewriter." I complied with his request and so did Mr. AtiquI Alam. After finishing with his typewriter, Mr. Atiq offered it to Mintu Bhai, who told me: "You people write your stories and come back to me before you go to the telegram office to file your stories."
When I returned to Mintu Bhai about a couple of hours later, he gave me his write-up to be sent to the Bangladesh Times office. By mid-night, all our news stories as well as the write-up of Mintu Bhai were sent telegraphically to the Times office in Dhaka.
Next morning, around 11 O'clock, Mintu Bhai asked me when the newspapers from Dhaka usually arrive at Rajshahi. As desired by him, I rushed in the afternoon to the newspaper Agent in the city and bought several copies of the Times. Back in the Circuit House, I gave a copy of the paper to Mintu Bhai, who had been anxiously waiting for it. While going through his write-up, Mintu Bhai occasionally uttered "Uooh" which, I was later told by him, was to express his annoyance for replacement of words in his write-up. The Bangladesh Times Dhaka office chose words, apparently because of the typing (telegraphic) error. However, what amazed me was the sharp memory of Mintu Bhai, who remembered the words he had chosen and used in his write-up.
Later, as I read Mintu Bhai's write-up titled "Palassy to signal victory this time" which covered almost 75% space of both the front and the back pages of the Times, I was overwhelmed to discover the depth of his knowledge, his ability to conceive ideas as well as his flare in writing. I wondered how, in about an hour and a half, he could conceive ideas and the context and produce the unique master-piece write-up, which would have taken some writers hours or even days to write and that also with a quality no near to what he had written. I would like to retain this image of him as long as I live - a brilliant Mintu Bhai producing an unique master-piece write-up within no time.
Mintu Bhai had been true to his words "The Holiday. Because life isn't" which appear on the front page of the weekly Holiday. In reality, he did not have a holiday; he kept on writing even from his sick-bed in Canada.
Mintu Bhai, writing about you has been a great honour for me, May your soul rest in peace.
The writer is General Manager, IRAM Motor Co. Ltd. Kakrail, Dhaka and a former Staff Correspondent of the Bangladesh Times (now defunct)
MY father used to subscribe and read the then Pakistan Observer (later The Bangladesh Observer), the weekly Holiday and the Reader's Digest in particular. It was on his insistence that I started reading newspapers in my High School days. And by the time I was in the 9th Grade of High School, I developed a passion for the weekly Holiday, though most of the words used in the write-ups of Mr. A.Z.M. Enayetullah Khan were unfamiliar to me at that age of mine. I used to take almost the whole week looking up his words in the dictionary and trying to comprehend his write-ups by repeated reading. Around that time, I felt an urge to enrich my knowledge in English language and was inspired to match Mr. Enayetullah Khan's vocabulary which I am yet to do. Subsequently, I cherished to meet Mr. Enayetullah some day and pursue a career in journalism.
In 1972, 1 got an opportunity to work as an apprentice Sub-Editor of Bangla daily Dainik Bangladesh published from Bogra, when I had to mostly translate the English version nres published in national and international news (received through tele-printer)to Bangla. Subsequently, I worked as an apprentice Staff Reporter of the daily. In 1975, 1 was appointed as Rajshahi University Correspondent of The Bangladesh Times. Mr. A.Z.M. Enayetullah Khan was then its Editor. Subsequently, I was appointed one of the Staff Correspondents of the daily.
I have not been in the profession of journalism ever since I resigned as an a Staff Correspondent of The Bangladesh Times in 1982. Neither have I been able to be in regular contact with the journalist community due to my preoccupation as a Business Executive. So, it was my nephew Riad Hasan, who phoned me immediately after listening to the BBC radio news on 10th November, 2005 evening to inform me about the demise of the weekly Holiday Editor-in-Chief and the daily New Age Editor Mr. Enayetullah Khan. Riad, who has just completed his MBA from the Dhaka University and is an admirer of Mr. Enayetullah Khan, was aware of my great admiration for Mr. Khan.
I hardly missed the write-ups by Mr. Enayetullah Khan. And, from the press reports, I was aware of Mr. Khan's illness and his on-going treatment in Canada. But, as he used to send write-ups from his sick-bed in Canada for his newspapers in Dhaka, I was under the impression that he was recovering slowly but steadily and would return to Dhaka fully cured in near future. So, the news of his demise came to me as a bolt from the blue and I was deeply saddened. As instantaneous reaction, I lamented : "Alas, the great people don't live at least a century! The titan has left when the country needed him the most." I told Riad : "I am going to buy all the leading national dailies tomorrow to know the reactions, feelings and sentiments of the people who used to admire Mr. Enayetullah Khan and also of those who were his critics." Next day, I did buy the newspapers and was overwhelmed to read the instantaneous reaction of The Daily Star Editor Mr. Mahfuz Anam, who apparently had political and ideological differences with Mr. Enayetullah but rose above all the differences to give the latter what he well deserved. Mr. Anam duly branded Mr. Enayetullah Khan as the 'icon' of journalism and commented: "He was by far the best among us."
I recall, in mid- 1970s, a foreign journal (I do not remember its name) had branded Mr. Enayetullah Khan as "one of the best political writers in South-East Asia." Obviously, Mr. Khan also emerged as one of the best journalists in South-East Asia in the contemporary period.
Since last few days, I have been feeling an ever-increasing urge to write something about late Mr. A.Z.M. Enayetullah Khan. But being aware of his professional and human qualities, I am in a dilemma of what to write about the great son of the soil who had multi-dimensional talents and succeeded in every career he had pursued.
All through his life, Mr. Enayetullah Khan had been committed and consistent to the ethics, ideals and practices of objective journalism. He pursued journalism with extraordinary courage and honesty. He did not hesitate to write the naked truth. He was not only one of the pioneers, but also a trend-setter in English journalism in the country. Writing to him was a passion and not merely a profession. He could produce a master-piece write-up within no time. Over the time, he had become an idol in the domain of journalism, In fact, Mr. A.Z.M. Enayetullah Khan and journalism, particularly English journalism in Bangladesh had become synonymous.
Mr. Enayetullah was a patriot, broad minded and magnanimous. He was, above all, a nationalist who loved his country and the people. He never compromised with secular democratic principles. He was bold against any kind of religious fundamentalism in politics.
During past several years, I happened to meet Mr. Enayetullah Khan on several occasions particularly in the diplomatic parties in Dhaka. I noticed him to be the centre of attraction in all parties and the social gatherings. The host and the invitees used to gather around him to hear his views on national and international issues. People used to be impressed apparently by his personality, knowledge, making a point and way of talking.
Although Mr. Enayetullah had political and ideological differences with many, they have, after his death, risen above all the differences to give him the respect and the love that he earned and deserved. He will live on in the hearts of his readers, associates and admirers. I pray that the Holiday and the New Age founded by him, survive for ever to keep his memories alive and as reminders of his contributions to the country, the people and the journalism. I am optimistic that the journalist community as a whole, will carry forward the mission for welfare of the country, the people, the freedom of expression and the dignity of journalism for which Mr. Enayetullah fought all his life.
To pay my tribute to late Mr. Enayetullah Khan, or Mintu Bhai, the name by which he was popularly known, I would like to reminisce a memory:
It was in 1976, about a week ahead of the historic Farakka Long March. I was then the Rajshahi University Correspondent of The Bangladesh Times and President of the Rajshahi University Journalists' Association. I phoned Mintu Bhai, then Editor of The Bangladesh Times at his office in Dhaka to know whether he would come to Rajshahi on the occasion of the Farakka Long March. He sounded very excited and enthusiastic. He told me he would arrive at Rajshahi at least a couple of days before the long march would start.
Mintu Bhai, accompanied by his good friend Mr. Anwar Hossain Monju, Editor of the daily "Ittefaq," arrived at the Rajshahi Circuit House in the afternoon of the appointed day. I, together with The Bangladesh Times Rajshahi Correspondent Mr. Anjum Ferdous, received Mintu Bhai at the Circuit House. He was in his traditional khaddar punjabi and jeans trouser. His punjabi was completely drenched by his sweat as he had personally driven his car all the way from Dhaka to Rajshahi. But he was so excited and enthusiastic that, to my surprise, without taking any food or rest after such a long drive, Mintu Bhai told me : "Now I would like to call on Maulana Shaheb (Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani) and then visit the marchers wherever they have gathered in the city to take part in the historic Farakka Long March, I want you to lead me."
I, together with Mr. Anjum Ferdous and the driver, drove straight to the Advocate's residence (I do not remember the Advocate's name) in a jeep provided exclusively for The Bangladesh Times team by the Rajshahi District Administration to cover the Farakka Long March. Mintu Bhai, accompanied by Mr. Anwar Hossain Monju, followed us in his car. After meeting Maulana Shaheb, we all visited each and every place where the excited and enthusiastic marchers from all over the country had gathered. An excited and enthusiastic Mintu Bhai talked to the marchers and enquired about their feelings and sentiments in respect of the ensuing long march.
At night, when we all returned to the Circuit House, Mintu Bhai sounded and looked even more excited and enthusiastic about the long march scheduled to start after a couple of days following a mammoth public meeting at the Rajshahi Madrasa Maidan to be addressed by Maulana. Bhasani. I could sense the highest degree of patriotism of Mintu Bhai. He spoke mostly of patriotism.
Meanwhile, The Bangladesh Times team from Dhaka, comprising Special Correspondent Amin Ahmed Chowdhury, Assistant Editor Mustafa Jasim Ahmed and Senior Staff Photographer Rafiqur Rahman, arrived at Rajshahi to cover the long march. The Bangladesh Times team was the biggest among the local and foreign media teams to cover the long march. Apparently, this was because of the importance Mintu Bhai, as the Times Editor, had attached to the Farakka Long March - a historic event drawing international attention.
As planned by Mintu Bhai, the Times team from Dhaka left Rajshahi city early next morning for a visit to the Bangladesh-India border areas. They returned to the city in the afternoon and reported their findings to Mintu Bhai, who asked them to write the news story and send it telegraphically to the Times Dhaka office with a note that "The Editor has okayed this." Mintu Bhai, being the competent Editor of the state-run national daily, was sure that the daily's News Editor in Dhaka office would need the Editor's approval to publish the sensitive news story that it was.
The next day's issue of The Bangladesh Times carried on the front page an exclusive news item titled "India amasses troops along border" to the envy of all other local and foreign media representatives who had gathered at Rajshahi to cover the Farakka Long March, but apparently did not conceive the idea of making such a news item.
Though Mintu Bhai was the Editor of The Bangladesh Times, his feelings and magnanimity were not limited to the Times staffers only. In fact, he had strong feelings and sentiments for the journalist community as a whole. This was duly demonstrated when, learning that no transport was available for the Dainik Bangla staffers, who had gathered at Rajshahi to cover the long march, Mintu Bhai urged me to let the Dainik Bangla staffers share the jeep earmarked for the Times team.
On the Farakka Long March day, Maulana Bhasani addressed a mammoth public meeting at the Rajshahi Madrasa maidan prior to leading the long march. Sensing that most of the marchers were in a mood to march to the "Farakka Barrage" itself, located in the Indian territory, the Maulana, in his address, made it absolutely clear that the long march would continue only up to the border and definitely not beyond the Bangladesh. territory. He warned the marchers not to infiltrate into the Indian territory. The meeting over, the march led by the Maulana, started.
Mintu Bhai and the Times team had covered the march and returned to Rajshahi Circuit House in the evening. After washing his face and having a cup of tea, Mintu Bhai told me: "Shahed, go to Atiq (Atiqul Alam of BBC) and tell him that I have requested him to give me his typewriter." I complied with his request and so did Mr. AtiquI Alam. After finishing with his typewriter, Mr. Atiq offered it to Mintu Bhai, who told me: "You people write your stories and come back to me before you go to the telegram office to file your stories."
When I returned to Mintu Bhai about a couple of hours later, he gave me his write-up to be sent to the Bangladesh Times office. By mid-night, all our news stories as well as the write-up of Mintu Bhai were sent telegraphically to the Times office in Dhaka.
Next morning, around 11 O'clock, Mintu Bhai asked me when the newspapers from Dhaka usually arrive at Rajshahi. As desired by him, I rushed in the afternoon to the newspaper Agent in the city and bought several copies of the Times. Back in the Circuit House, I gave a copy of the paper to Mintu Bhai, who had been anxiously waiting for it. While going through his write-up, Mintu Bhai occasionally uttered "Uooh" which, I was later told by him, was to express his annoyance for replacement of words in his write-up. The Bangladesh Times Dhaka office chose words, apparently because of the typing (telegraphic) error. However, what amazed me was the sharp memory of Mintu Bhai, who remembered the words he had chosen and used in his write-up.
Later, as I read Mintu Bhai's write-up titled "Palassy to signal victory this time" which covered almost 75% space of both the front and the back pages of the Times, I was overwhelmed to discover the depth of his knowledge, his ability to conceive ideas as well as his flare in writing. I wondered how, in about an hour and a half, he could conceive ideas and the context and produce the unique master-piece write-up, which would have taken some writers hours or even days to write and that also with a quality no near to what he had written. I would like to retain this image of him as long as I live - a brilliant Mintu Bhai producing an unique master-piece write-up within no time.
Mintu Bhai had been true to his words "The Holiday. Because life isn't" which appear on the front page of the weekly Holiday. In reality, he did not have a holiday; he kept on writing even from his sick-bed in Canada.
Mintu Bhai, writing about you has been a great honour for me, May your soul rest in peace.
The writer is General Manager, IRAM Motor Co. Ltd. Kakrail, Dhaka and a former Staff Correspondent of the Bangladesh Times (now defunct)