Bazlu, my friend
Friday, 14 March 2008
Muhammad Quamrul Islam
OUR friendship developed quickly, once we came to know each other in 1959, introduced by Abdul Gafur, his close class friend. We three were resident students of S M Hall. We studied Economics. We shared democratic values. We belonged to the erstwhile student organisation, East Pakistan Students Union (EPSU).
Our friendship sustained for 50 years, surviving all odds, especially in post Bangladesh scenario, where people are evaluated in terms of status, power, position or links. The traditional Bangali values, we saw in our childhood, among our guardians, are gone. It's no tribute, but recalling Bazlu, as his memory keeps coming to my mind in flashes.
Bazlul Rahman, the Editor of Sangbad, passed away Tuesday night, February 26. I recorded my instant feelings in the condolence book, kept in the office of Sangbad in the following morning. I was so shocked that my language failed to convey my grief.
We were in the UOTC and took a common interest in cultural, sporting and other extra curricular pursuits.
Elections to hall union and the Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) were held every year in a friendly competitive atmosphere. Can the post 1971 students of this university think of this?
We were of the same age. Bazlur Rahman was born on August 3, 1941 at Baneshwardi under Nakla upazila of Sherpur district, I on July 3, 1941 in a political family at Comilla town. Law was our family's favoured profession. We saw three flags, the British, Pakistani and of Bangladesh.
Dr. Gafur died earlier. He was Director General, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). He maintained a low profile. He was not happy with the happenings as problems at the grassroots level remained unsolved.
Our families were sensitive to political movements of the day. Bazlu joined Sangbad in 1961, became its Editor and served the daily until his death. As a journalist he believed in and practised freedom of expression. He never exploited journalism, the order of the day, nowadays. A newspaper might have a preference for an ideology, but that does not mean it would twist news and views of others, or deny them space because they do not conform to its political line or business interests.
Standard newspapers and patriotic politicians supported the language movement in 1952.
Through competitive examination I got a job as Research Officer in Pakistan's central bank, the State Bank of Pakistan. Later I joined the then government of East Pakistan as an economist. After this I joined the then East Pakistan Water and Power Development (WAPDA), as a Deputy Director, Finance. I left it in 1975. In 1971 Bazlu went to India. He joined the Liberation War. After liberation he was unhappy, with politicisation, partisanship and favouritism that started in war ravaged sovereign Bangladesh. While I was in WAPDA Bazlu asked me to provide a job to his younger sister's husband, a simple and honest person. I managed a job for him in mid 1960s. He proved himself dutiful.
We were in the so called Paltan Group. After the day's work we used to meet every evening at Paltan to spend time discussing current affairs, culture, politics and so on. Hence the name 'Paltan Group'. It was an informal association, in which Bazlu was a participant. Bazlu had to take time out of his busy schedule whenever possible. He took a particular interest in what Advocate Hyder, a friend of my father in the legal profession and politics in Calcutta, said. Uncle Hyder was the centre of attraction for all of us.
One day Bazlu introduced Monaem Sarker, then a NAP activist to us. Now, he is the Director General, Bangladesh Foundation for Development Research. He is younger to us. Brotherly relationship still exists among us. We meet occasionally. I met him, and other surviving friends at Bazlu's qulkhwani, held at his Ramna Apartment complex flat. Mostofa Jamal Haider, a former minister in Ershad government and Mujtahid, among the known, since the 1960's, were there. Though in service then, we were politically conscious. To us NAP was a party founded by Bhashani, no matter its subsequent splits. In those days politics was for the welfare of the people. NAP stood for an exploitation free democratic society. There were people with underground communist links. That did not concern us. The Communist Party had supported the subcontinent's partition in 1947.
Bazlu became a full timer in journalism in course of time. He was in politics. Why he left politics or for whose machinations he had to go it, needs no elaboration anymore.
One evening in 1964 we came to know that Bazlu had married Motia Chowdhury, a fiery student leader he loved. One day he came with his wife. We greeted them in a restaurant on the second floor of the stadium. It was a small arrangement, but it was full of warmth. It was totally different from the ways in today's Bangladesh. They were a happy couple. Support of Bazlu was vital for politics of Motia. Bazlu's contribution in this respect couldn't be denied. It goes without saying Motia was a successful minister with a clean image in the last Awami League-led 3-party government, in which JSD (Rab) and Jatiya Party (Manju), were partners. Bazlu and Motia abhorred tadbir culture, though it was the order of the day. Motia is now a presidium member of Awami League. We pray may Allah give her the strength to bear the loss, the death of her husband.
I left service in 1987 out of total disgust for the corruption, partisan treatment and misuse of power which then had become the order of the day. I joined the legal profession. Bazlu was worried as legal profession had lost the prestige it had, when my father was a lawyer. My father died on November 2, 1969. Bazlu published the news of his death. My interestt to join politics alarmed him. Still he encouraged me. He felt happy when I joined, the reorganised NAP led by Barrister Abdul Haq, on August 31, 1990 at its national representatives' conference held at the National Press Club. I was made a presidium member. After the fall of Ershad regime on December 6, 1990, a new political divide emerged. A 'non-party caretaker government' took responsibility to hold the national elections. The 13th amendment failed to bring the needed change and created 1/11 in 2006.
In mid 1990s Bazlu asked me to join the Sangbad as Dr. Maqbul Ahmed had done. The compensation package was good. He understood I was toiling hard. He knew the state of politics and law. A deep political commitment in me prevented me from joining the Sangbad. How noble he was! Bazlu published my columns as I gave him. One day he said, 'you are a popular columnist'. Another day he praised my article he published, as the tenure of the 5th parliament was coming to an end. 'Settle the issue of caretaker government on the floor of the House, otherwise disaster would follow', I had written. He told me that this forecast would not go wrong. He was right. One cannot but note how the Election Commission is ignoring the mainstream parties to have the dialogue with the small parties.
He reached the height of journalism. Whatever Bazlu did as a journalist, he did out of his conscience, love for the people. He was honest in the discharge of his responsibilities to the readers. He did not try to please anyone. He did not seek favours or medals. He created Khelaghar. It's good that Bazlu did not believe in NGO-led media partnership.
What is, 'that more' that Bazlu could do? Something other than journalism in the name of editing a daily? A caretaker adviser, ambassador or create celebrities? But he showed his courage to be emulated by the new generation. I pray for the eternal peace of Bazlu.
The writer is a senior citizen and Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
OUR friendship developed quickly, once we came to know each other in 1959, introduced by Abdul Gafur, his close class friend. We three were resident students of S M Hall. We studied Economics. We shared democratic values. We belonged to the erstwhile student organisation, East Pakistan Students Union (EPSU).
Our friendship sustained for 50 years, surviving all odds, especially in post Bangladesh scenario, where people are evaluated in terms of status, power, position or links. The traditional Bangali values, we saw in our childhood, among our guardians, are gone. It's no tribute, but recalling Bazlu, as his memory keeps coming to my mind in flashes.
Bazlul Rahman, the Editor of Sangbad, passed away Tuesday night, February 26. I recorded my instant feelings in the condolence book, kept in the office of Sangbad in the following morning. I was so shocked that my language failed to convey my grief.
We were in the UOTC and took a common interest in cultural, sporting and other extra curricular pursuits.
Elections to hall union and the Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) were held every year in a friendly competitive atmosphere. Can the post 1971 students of this university think of this?
We were of the same age. Bazlur Rahman was born on August 3, 1941 at Baneshwardi under Nakla upazila of Sherpur district, I on July 3, 1941 in a political family at Comilla town. Law was our family's favoured profession. We saw three flags, the British, Pakistani and of Bangladesh.
Dr. Gafur died earlier. He was Director General, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). He maintained a low profile. He was not happy with the happenings as problems at the grassroots level remained unsolved.
Our families were sensitive to political movements of the day. Bazlu joined Sangbad in 1961, became its Editor and served the daily until his death. As a journalist he believed in and practised freedom of expression. He never exploited journalism, the order of the day, nowadays. A newspaper might have a preference for an ideology, but that does not mean it would twist news and views of others, or deny them space because they do not conform to its political line or business interests.
Standard newspapers and patriotic politicians supported the language movement in 1952.
Through competitive examination I got a job as Research Officer in Pakistan's central bank, the State Bank of Pakistan. Later I joined the then government of East Pakistan as an economist. After this I joined the then East Pakistan Water and Power Development (WAPDA), as a Deputy Director, Finance. I left it in 1975. In 1971 Bazlu went to India. He joined the Liberation War. After liberation he was unhappy, with politicisation, partisanship and favouritism that started in war ravaged sovereign Bangladesh. While I was in WAPDA Bazlu asked me to provide a job to his younger sister's husband, a simple and honest person. I managed a job for him in mid 1960s. He proved himself dutiful.
We were in the so called Paltan Group. After the day's work we used to meet every evening at Paltan to spend time discussing current affairs, culture, politics and so on. Hence the name 'Paltan Group'. It was an informal association, in which Bazlu was a participant. Bazlu had to take time out of his busy schedule whenever possible. He took a particular interest in what Advocate Hyder, a friend of my father in the legal profession and politics in Calcutta, said. Uncle Hyder was the centre of attraction for all of us.
One day Bazlu introduced Monaem Sarker, then a NAP activist to us. Now, he is the Director General, Bangladesh Foundation for Development Research. He is younger to us. Brotherly relationship still exists among us. We meet occasionally. I met him, and other surviving friends at Bazlu's qulkhwani, held at his Ramna Apartment complex flat. Mostofa Jamal Haider, a former minister in Ershad government and Mujtahid, among the known, since the 1960's, were there. Though in service then, we were politically conscious. To us NAP was a party founded by Bhashani, no matter its subsequent splits. In those days politics was for the welfare of the people. NAP stood for an exploitation free democratic society. There were people with underground communist links. That did not concern us. The Communist Party had supported the subcontinent's partition in 1947.
Bazlu became a full timer in journalism in course of time. He was in politics. Why he left politics or for whose machinations he had to go it, needs no elaboration anymore.
One evening in 1964 we came to know that Bazlu had married Motia Chowdhury, a fiery student leader he loved. One day he came with his wife. We greeted them in a restaurant on the second floor of the stadium. It was a small arrangement, but it was full of warmth. It was totally different from the ways in today's Bangladesh. They were a happy couple. Support of Bazlu was vital for politics of Motia. Bazlu's contribution in this respect couldn't be denied. It goes without saying Motia was a successful minister with a clean image in the last Awami League-led 3-party government, in which JSD (Rab) and Jatiya Party (Manju), were partners. Bazlu and Motia abhorred tadbir culture, though it was the order of the day. Motia is now a presidium member of Awami League. We pray may Allah give her the strength to bear the loss, the death of her husband.
I left service in 1987 out of total disgust for the corruption, partisan treatment and misuse of power which then had become the order of the day. I joined the legal profession. Bazlu was worried as legal profession had lost the prestige it had, when my father was a lawyer. My father died on November 2, 1969. Bazlu published the news of his death. My interestt to join politics alarmed him. Still he encouraged me. He felt happy when I joined, the reorganised NAP led by Barrister Abdul Haq, on August 31, 1990 at its national representatives' conference held at the National Press Club. I was made a presidium member. After the fall of Ershad regime on December 6, 1990, a new political divide emerged. A 'non-party caretaker government' took responsibility to hold the national elections. The 13th amendment failed to bring the needed change and created 1/11 in 2006.
In mid 1990s Bazlu asked me to join the Sangbad as Dr. Maqbul Ahmed had done. The compensation package was good. He understood I was toiling hard. He knew the state of politics and law. A deep political commitment in me prevented me from joining the Sangbad. How noble he was! Bazlu published my columns as I gave him. One day he said, 'you are a popular columnist'. Another day he praised my article he published, as the tenure of the 5th parliament was coming to an end. 'Settle the issue of caretaker government on the floor of the House, otherwise disaster would follow', I had written. He told me that this forecast would not go wrong. He was right. One cannot but note how the Election Commission is ignoring the mainstream parties to have the dialogue with the small parties.
He reached the height of journalism. Whatever Bazlu did as a journalist, he did out of his conscience, love for the people. He was honest in the discharge of his responsibilities to the readers. He did not try to please anyone. He did not seek favours or medals. He created Khelaghar. It's good that Bazlu did not believe in NGO-led media partnership.
What is, 'that more' that Bazlu could do? Something other than journalism in the name of editing a daily? A caretaker adviser, ambassador or create celebrities? But he showed his courage to be emulated by the new generation. I pray for the eternal peace of Bazlu.
The writer is a senior citizen and Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh