Serajur Rahman

A. N. M. Serajur Rahman (born 1934) is a Bangladeshi journalist, broadcaster and Bangladeshi nationalist.

Education

Rahman was born in Noakhali, Chittagong, East Bengal (now Bangladesh), British India. He went to school in Calcutta, matriculating with distinction in 1947 from Mitra Institution. He was actively involved in the Mukuler Mahfil Youth Organisation. He regularly published articles and short stories in the youth sections of the Daily Azad, Daily Nabajug and Weekly Millat of Calcutta. He started his broadcasting career in Calcutta whilst still at school, participating regularly on programmes of All India Radio.

In 1947, after the partition of India Rahman moved to Dhaka, East Pakistan, and was admitted to Dhaka College. He was actively involved in the Language Movement when it started in 1948. He was elected by his college to liaise with the University of Dhaka Students’ Action Committee.

Career

Rahman continued his career in journalism whilst at college. After serving in the news departments of the Bi-Weekly Pakistan, Daily Zindegi, Daily Insaf and the Daily Millat, he was appointed editor of the British Information Service in Dhaka in January 1953. Under his leadership the press section expanded to include 12 journalists. Rahman during this time also edited a daily bi-lingual news bulletin, the fortnightly British Darpan (mirror) and the magazine Ajker Commonwealth. In addition to the BIS job Rahman was a part time lead writer in the Daily Ittefaq from 1954 to end of 1959.

In January 1960, Rahman joined the then East Pakistan section of the BBC World Service. By the time he retired in February 1994 he had risen to become the Deputy Head of the Bengali Section of the BBC World Service.

The BBC’s Bengali broadcasts under his leadership during the liberation war of Bangladesh played a critical role in keeping people across the country informed about developments in the conflict. He broadcasts were reputed as one of the only reliable sources of news – his voice becoming well known to the people of Bangladesh during the Bangladesh independence movement. In addition to this, Rahman helped to coordinate the liberation movement’s international publicity. His active and influential role in Bangladesh’s struggle for independence earned him close personal recognition from the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the leaders of the new country.^[1]

Awards

Rahman’s efforts have been recognised on several occasions, including through the award of the Ekushe Padak, Bangladesh’s highest award for culture in 2002.

See also

• British Bangladeshi
• List of British Bangladeshis

References