The Daily Ittefaq
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Daily Ittefaq (Bengali: দৈনিক ইত্তেফাক Doinik Ittefak) is one of the Bangladesh’s most published and circulated newspapers. Written in Bengali, it contributed to the fall of Pakistan's military rule in Bangladesh during the 1960s.
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[edit] Colonial era
The Ittefaq was first published as a weekly paper on the 24 December 1953 by Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia, although for first few years Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani was named at the top of the paper as its founder.
In the colonial era it publicized the negligence and colonial mindset of Pakistan leaders to East Pakistan. As a result, the government acted against its editors and journalists. Tofazzal Hossain's post editorial column ‘Rajnaitik Mancha’ (political platform) earned great popularity in East Pakistan. Ittefaq had a significant role in the general elections of 1954, and it contributed victory of the United Front. Ittefaq always strongly opposed all military rule of Pakistan starting from Ayub Khan to Yahya Khan.
The Ittefaq supported the Six Point Program of Awami League during the mid-1960s and played an important role to publish the idea into people. Quickly Ittefaq emerged as the voice of the East Pakistan citizens. President Ayub Khan censored its publication from June 17 to July 11, 1966, and then again from July 17, 1966 to February 9, 1969. The publisher Tofazzal Hossain, was imprisoned several times.
Hossain died on June 1, 1969, and the newspaper was managed by his two sons; Mainul Hosein and Anwar Hossain.
[edit] In Liberation War
The Ittefaq's office was burnt down by the Pakistan army on 25 March 1971. Publication did not resume until 21 May 1971 under direct control of Pakistani officials.
[edit] Present
The Ittefaq was nationalized on 17 June 1975. Nurul Islam Patwary was made the chief editor and was published from New Nation Press at 1 Ramkrishna Mission Road, Dhaka. Ownership was returned to Manik Mia’s sons on 24 August 1975. Mainul Hossain is now chairman of the editorial board while Anwar Hossain is its editor.
