Bengali-language newspaper
The Azad
(
Bengali
:
????
) was a Bengali-language daily newspaper published from 1936 to 1992.
The Azad
became Dhaka's first daily newspaper. The newspaper, while based in Dhaka, played an important role during the
Bengali Language Movement
for its advocacy of Bengali.
[1]
History
[
edit
]
The newspaper was founded in
Kolkata
on 31 October 1936. The first editor of the daily was
Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan
. In its early days, the daily supported the
Muslim League
in both
Bengal
and
Assam
languages. In the 1940s, the editor was
Mohammad Modabber
; he published
The Azad
with his son. Mohammed Sadrul Anam Khan and Nazir Ahmed were also associated during that time. The daily regularly published
Dhaka
-based and regional news from reporter Khairul Kabir.
After the
partition of India
,
The Azad
was transferred to
Dhaka
on 19 October 1948. It became the first newspaper to move to Dhaka.
Abul Kalam Shamsuddin
was nominated editor at that time. Khairul Kabir acted as news editor.
Mujibur Rahman
Khan and
Abu Jafar Shamsuddin
worked in the editorial section. Soon afterward, the daily became the leading newspaper in
East Pakistan
.
[2]
Bengali Language Movement
[
edit
]
The publication of
The Azad
was prohibited in 1949 when editorial content turned against the government, which responded by prohibiting advertisements in the paper.
[2]
The Azad
supported the
Bengali Language Movement
and defied the government's threats. When the
killing of February 21
took place,
The Azad
released a special edition on 22 February. The editor of the newspaper, Abul Kalam Shamsuddin, who was also member of the
Legislative Assembly
, resigned from the assembly in protest.
[2]
Despite being a
right wing
newspaper which previously supported the
Muslim League
, it published week-long investigative reports on the
incidents of February 21
.
[3]
However, after 1 March 1952 they succumbed to government pressure and could not remain impartial.
[4]
[
additional citation(s) needed
]
During the autocratic regime of General
Ayub Khan
, the daily again stood up under the leadership of Akram Khan's youngest son,
Mohammed Quamrul Anam Khan
to protest against corruption and unjust rule. It also played an important role in the
toppling of the Ayub Khan government
and the
Agartala Conspiracy Case
.
[2]
Decline
[
edit
]
The daily quickly lost its appeal after
Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan
died and ownership controversies arose. It lost readership from competition with
Ittefaq
which became increasingly popular.
[3]
After the independence of Bangladesh, the daily lost government financial aid. Later, the daily was given to its legal owner and managing director, Mohammad Quamrul Anam Khan to be run under private administration. Due to lack of financial support and government policies,
The Azad
was shut down in 1990.
[2]
See also
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References
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