The Azad
Encyclopedia
The Daily Azad is a Bengali daily newspaper that was first published in Kolkata
on October 31, 1936. The first editor of the daily was Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan
. In the early days the daily was treated as the expresser of the Muslims of Bengal
and Assam
. In the 1940s the editor was Mohammad Modabber and he used to carry all the initiatives to publish it with his son. Mohammed Sadrul Anam Khan and Nazir Ahmed was also associated during that time. The daily regularly published the news of Dhaka
as well from their regional reporter Khairul Kabir.
When the partition of India
took place, the whole paper was transferred to Dhaka
on October 19, 1948. Abul Kalam Shamsuddin was nominated editor at that time. Other officials were Khairul Kabir as news editor and Mujibur Rahman Khan and Abu Jafar Shamsuddin was in editorial section. Soon afterwards the daily became the leading newspaper in East Pakistan
.
The publication of Azad was prohibited in 1949 when the editorial went against the government. Government also stopped giving advertisements to the paper.
Azad played an important role during the Language Movement
. Azad supported the movement and told the truth defying the threat of the government. When the killing of February 21 took place, Azad immediately released a special edition on February 22. Abul Kalam Shamsuddin who was the editor and the member of the Legislative Council of that time resigned from council as a protest of the killing. Though it was a Muslim League
based paper, it showed its love and respect for the Bengali language and movement. As a result Azad later become the main source to collect the historical happenings of that time. But their vision also fluctuated from time to time. Specially after March 1, 1952 they followed government's desire and became partisan. During the autocratic regime of General Ayub Khan the daily again stood up under the leadership of Maulana's youngest son Mohammed Quamrul Anam Khan to protest against numerous corruption and unjust rule. It also played an important role yet in another instance in the history of Bangladesh during those time - the Agartala Conspiracy Case
.
The daily quickly lost its appeal after when Maulana Akram Khan died and the controversies started about the ownership. It lost competition with daily Ittefaq
which became increasingly popular. After the independence of Bangladesh
the daily was published with the financial help of the government. Later the daily was given to its legal owner and Managing Director, Mohammad Quamrul Anam Khan Under the private administration. Due to lack of financial support and Govt. policies, Daily Azad was finally defunct after 1992.
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
on October 31, 1936. The first editor of the daily was Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan
Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan
Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan was a Bangladeshi journalist, politician and Islamic scholar. He is the founder of first Bengali newspaper The Azad.-Early Life:...
. In the early days the daily was treated as the expresser of the Muslims of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
and Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
. In the 1940s the editor was Mohammad Modabber and he used to carry all the initiatives to publish it with his son. Mohammed Sadrul Anam Khan and Nazir Ahmed was also associated during that time. The daily regularly published the news of Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
as well from their regional reporter Khairul Kabir.
When the partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
took place, the whole paper was transferred to Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
on October 19, 1948. Abul Kalam Shamsuddin was nominated editor at that time. Other officials were Khairul Kabir as news editor and Mujibur Rahman Khan and Abu Jafar Shamsuddin was in editorial section. Soon afterwards the daily became the leading newspaper in East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
.
The publication of Azad was prohibited in 1949 when the editorial went against the government. Government also stopped giving advertisements to the paper.
Azad played an important role during the Language Movement
Language Movement
The Bengali Language Movement, also known as the Language Movement , was a political effort in Bangladesh , advocating the recognition of the Bengali language as an official language of Pakistan...
. Azad supported the movement and told the truth defying the threat of the government. When the killing of February 21 took place, Azad immediately released a special edition on February 22. Abul Kalam Shamsuddin who was the editor and the member of the Legislative Council of that time resigned from council as a protest of the killing. Though it was a Muslim League
Muslim League (Pakistan)
Muslim League was the original successor of All India Muslim League that led the Pakistan Movement achieving an independent nation. After formation of Pakistan, the party was renamed to Muslim League which came to an end soon after Qaid-e-Azam's death on the first marshal law in 1958.-History:On...
based paper, it showed its love and respect for the Bengali language and movement. As a result Azad later become the main source to collect the historical happenings of that time. But their vision also fluctuated from time to time. Specially after March 1, 1952 they followed government's desire and became partisan. During the autocratic regime of General Ayub Khan the daily again stood up under the leadership of Maulana's youngest son Mohammed Quamrul Anam Khan to protest against numerous corruption and unjust rule. It also played an important role yet in another instance in the history of Bangladesh during those time - the Agartala Conspiracy Case
Agartala Conspiracy Case
Agartala Conspiracy Case was a sedition case in Pakistan, brought forward by the Government of Pakistan against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, leader of the Awami League and East Pakistan, and 34 other persons.-The Case:...
.
The daily quickly lost its appeal after when Maulana Akram Khan died and the controversies started about the ownership. It lost competition with daily Ittefaq
Ittefaq
The Daily Ittefaq is a daily newspaper which is one of the most published and circulated newspaper published from Bangladesh. This newspaper printed in Bengali by Ittefaq Group of Publications Limited...
which became increasingly popular. After the independence of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
the daily was published with the financial help of the government. Later the daily was given to its legal owner and Managing Director, Mohammad Quamrul Anam Khan Under the private administration. Due to lack of financial support and Govt. policies, Daily Azad was finally defunct after 1992.