Sheikh Arif Bulbon :A foundation named after renowned journalist Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia was launched at a ceremony held on June 3 at the Ittefaq Bhaban in the city with the presence of eminent politicians, writers, university teachers, editors of newspapers and journalists.Organisers said its objective should be to conduct research on life and works of the doyen of journalism in Bangladesh who inspired the movement for democracy, autonomy and the right of self-determination that ultimately led to the movement for Bangladesh. Presided over by Rahat Khan, former editor of daily Ittefaq and Prof Aktar Sultana, Chairman of Journalism and Mass Communication Department of Dhaka University inaugurated the foundation office.Barrister Mainul Hosein and Syed Tosharraf Ali, President and Secretary General of the Foundation respectively also spoke on the occasion. The function was addressed by President JSD ASM Abdur Rab, politician and former editor of daily Desh Bangla Ferdous Ahmed Qurashi, eminent journalist Sadeq Khan, Editor of daily Naya Diganta Alamgir Mohiuddin, Prof Amirul Islam, former vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Prof Anwar Hossain, Prof AK Fazlul Haque, Prof Asif Nazrul, journalist Reazuddin Ahmed, Kazi Siraj and Sheikh Rakibuddin Ahmed, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Editor of The New Nation A M Mufazzal, Chairperson of The New Nation Saju Hosein, among others.The speakers eulogised the fearless journalism practiced by Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia who professed what he believed to be right for championing the cause of the people. They pointed out that the context was different then from now when people move about freely even after telling lies. n
