ABM Musa remembered

Academics, senior journalists and representatives from various professions on Sunday said that the nation now needed people like veteran journalist ABM Musa who was fearless in telling the truth and stood by the people with dissent opinions.
The nation is now feeling the necessity of such a luminary who used to advocate for peoples’ rights, freedom of media and development of democracy, they said.
They made their observations at a commemoration on the occasion of 85th birthday of journalist ABM Musa at the National Press Club, organised by ABM Musa and Setara Musa Foundation.
Senior journalist Kamal Lohani said ABM Musa had brought out rallies against the black law promulgated by military Janta Ayub Khan and fought against communalism in the erstwhile Pakistan and then in Bangladesh.
‘He was a symbol of unity among the journalist folks,’ Kamal said.
Information adviser to the prime minister Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said today’s mass media were going through a bad time, created by the media professionals and that he himself was included.
‘It is necessary to follow ABM Musa’s way of journalism to overcome such bad times,’ he said.
Retired Dhaka University professor of Mass Communication and Journalism department Sakhawat Ali Khan who presided over the meeting said Musa used to teach his colleagues the pragmatic journalism. He was a ‘true news editor’ whose journalistic principles and norms could be followed, he said.
He said that ABM Musa donated Tk 40 lakh to Mass Communication and Journalism department of Dhaka University as grant on behalf of journalists Abdus Salam and Ataus Samad.
Journalist Mahfuzullah said Musa was outspoken…he protested against irregularities, mismanagement and corruption done by the government.
‘Journalist Musa always stood by peoples’ side when it came to dissenting views, which is now absent in the society,’ Mahfuzullah said.
Fellow Ershad Mazumder said ABM Musa was a hardest man outside and softest inside.
Former director general of Press Institute of Bangladesh and Dhaka University professor Sheikh Abdus Salam said he was a versatile man.
A relative of Musa, Rehana Salam, said, journalist ABM Musa never compromised with the truth and that he would be remembered by the people for whom he worked.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net