Farrukh Khosru :
Tofazzal Hossain, popularly known as Manik Miah (1911 – 1 June 1969), was a prominent Pakistani Bengali journalist, political activist, and a leading voice for democracy and autonomy in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
Born in Bhandaria, Pirojpur, he pursued his education at Pirojpur High School and later completed his B.A. from Brojomohun College, Barisal.
He began his career in government service but soon left it to pursue journalism on the advice of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. Moving to Kolkata in 1943, he became involved with the Bengal Muslim League and the Daily Ittehad. In 1948, he relocated to Dhaka and joined the Ittefaq weekly.
By 1951, he had become its editor, later transforming it into a daily newspaper in 1953. Manik Miah’s powerful political column “Rajnoitik Moncho” under the pen-name Musafir gained wide influence, especially among Awami League activists.
A close associate of Suhrawardy and mentor to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Miah played a key role in shaping the political discourse of East Pakistan. He was instrumental in the Six Point Movement of 1966, persuading Mujib to announce the program, which laid the groundwork for Bangladesh’s independence movement. His vocal support for democracy and regional autonomy led to multiple arrests and suppression of his newspaper by the Pakistani government.
Despite these challenges, he remained committed to his principles until his death from cardiac arrest in Rawalpindi in 1969. He was buried in Azimpur, Dhaka. After Bangladesh’s independence, Manik Miah Avenue in Dhaka was named in his honor. He left behind a legacy of fearless journalism and democratic advocacy, continued by his sons, barrister Mainul Hosein and Anwar Hossain Manju.
Barrister Mainul Hosein nicknamed Hiru, was elected to the parliament in 1973 from Pirojpur constituency as a member of Bangladesh Awami League headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who eventually became the prime minister. His younger son Anwar Hossain Manju, who pursued studies in Dhaka University and Georgetown University of US served as member of parliament for seven terms.
