The Daily Ittefaq
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 10 September 2023 cover of The Daily Ittefaq. | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner(s) | Ittefaq Group of Publications Ltd. |
| Founder(s) | |
| Publisher | Tareen Hossain |
| Editor | Tasmima Hossain |
| Founded | 24 December 1953 |
| Political alignment | Secular, Liberal |
| Language | Bengali |
| Headquarters | 40, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka 1215; Kazlarpar Demra, Dhaka 1232 |
| Website | Ittefaq official website |
The Daily Ittefaq (Bengali: দৈনিক ইত্তেফাক, romanized: Dôinik Ittefāk, Bangla pronunciation: [ˈd̪ɔinik ˈit̪ːefak]), is a Bangla daily newspaper. Founded in 1949 by Maulana Bhashani and Yar Mohammad Khan, it is the oldest newspaper, and one of the most circulated newspapers in Bangladesh. The newspaper format is broadsheet, and is printed by Ittefaq Group of Publications Limited.
Pre-1971
[edit]Ittefaq was initially published weekly. On 15 August 1949, the first issue of Ittefaq was off the press. Bhashani served as the original editor.[1] Later, Bhashani and Yar Mohammad Khan appointed Manik Miah as the editor. It became a daily on 24 December 1953 under the editorship of Tofazzal Hossain.[2]
During the time of United Pakistan, it publicised the negligence and colonial mindset of Pakistani leaders to East Pakistan. As a result, the government acted against its editors and journalists. Hossain's post-editorial column 'Rajnaitik Mancha' (political platform) became popular in East Pakistan. During the Bengali language movement era, The Daily Ittefaq played a vital role. Ittefaq had a significant role in the 1954 general elections, and it contributed to the victory of the United Front. From Ayub Khan to Yahya Khan, Ittefaq always strongly opposed all military rule of Pakistan.[2]
The Ittefaq supported the six point movement of Awami League during the mid-1960s and helped publish its ideas. Ittefaq quickly emerged as the voice of East Pakistani citizens. President Ayub Khan censored its publication from 17 June to 11 July 1966, and then again from 17 July 1966 to 9 February 1969. Tofazzal Hossain was imprisoned several times.[3]
Hossain died on 1 June 1969; the newspaper was subsequently managed by his two sons, Mainul Hosein and Anwar Hossain Manju.[citation needed]
Role in Liberation War of Bangladesh
[edit]The Ittefaq office was burnt down and completely demolished on 25 March 1971,[4] by the Pakistan Army as part of Operation Searchlight. It was all in ruins and there was not a sign of life there.[5] The newspaper received Taka 100,000 (equivalent to £8,300 in 1971)[6] as compensation from the Pakistan government.[7] This enabled Barrister Mainul Hosein to resume publishing, under the watchful eye of the authorities, on 21 May 1971, from the Daily Pakistan Press.[2][7] For the remainder of the Bangladesh Liberation War, the paper was a mouthpiece for Yahya and Tikka Khan and severely criticised the freedom fighters.[7]
After the newspaper The Daily Sangram called Serajuddin Hossain (also transliterated Seraj Uddin Hossain), executive editor of The Daily Ittefaq, the editor was abducted on 10 December 1971 and never found. During Bangladesh's war crimes trials in 2012, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, a Jamaat-e-Islami party member, was charged with Hossain's murder.[8]
Present
[edit]Ownership was returned to Manik Mia's sons after nationalization on 24 August 1975.[2] Tasmima Hossain is the editor. The Daily Ittefaq features all the standard sections of a modern daily newspaper like political news, economic, sports, education, entertainment, and general and local news.
Online edition
[edit]This newspaper offers a daily Bengali electronic edition on its website and an English edition aimed at a younger audience.
This news portal has also E-paper.[9]
See also
[edit]- List of newspapers in Bangladesh
- Bangladesh Pratidin
- Bengali-language newspapers
- Samakal
- Prothom Alo
- Daily Inqilab
- Daily Brahmanbaria
- Dainik Bangla
- Janakantha
- Daily Nayadiganta
- The Daily Sangram
- Sylheter Dak
References
[edit]- ^ Foundation, Bhashani (8 October 2010). Searching for Bhasani Citizen of the World: The Life and Times of (Earnest) Mozlum Leader Maulana Bhasani. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4535-7313-6.
- ^ a b c d Islam, Manu (2012). "Ittefaq, The". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Hossain, Tofazzal". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Chowdhury, Afsan (26 October 2023). "Manik Mia and Ittefaq : When history meets each other through media". The Financial Express (Bangladesh). Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Siddiqi, Brigadier Abdul Rahman (2004). East Pakistan: The Endgame. Karachi, Pakistan: Oxford University Press. p. 96. ISBN 0-19-579993-3.
- ^ Islam, Nurul (2004). Exploration in Development Issues: Selected Articles of Nurul Islam. Academic Foundation. p. 530. ISBN 978-81-7188-414-8.
- ^ a b c Dasgupta, Sukharanjan (1978). Midnight Massacre in Dacca. New Delhi: Vikas. p. 24. ISBN 0-7069-0692-6.
After a couple of months Yahya's government realized its mistake and gave Ittefaq Taka 10,00,000 as compensation to enable it to resume publication. [Barrister Mainul Hossain] started publishing Ittefaq from the Daily Pakistan Press. Besides being a mouthpiece of Yahya and Tikka Khan, Ittefaq started criticizing the freedom fighters severely.
- ^ "Mojaheed indicted for genocide, crimes against humanity". New Age (Bangladesh). Dhaka. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ ই-পেপার | দৈনিক ই-ইত্তেফাক. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali).
