12th death anniversary of Ataus Samad observed

A Memoral meeting on the 12th anniversary of death of renowned journalist Ataus Samad at National Press Club on Thursday.

At the initiative of Ataus Samad Memorial Council, a discussion meeting was held on the occasion of the 12th death anniversary of Ataus Samad at Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of Jatiya Press Club at on Thursday.

Senior photojournalist Rafiqur Rahman, recipient of Ataus Samad Memorial Award, presided over the discussion.

Speakers in the discussion meeting said that being professionally brave and honest is to pay real respect to Ataus Samad.

Ataus Samad would be most happy if he were alive today in a dictatorship-free Bangladesh. His thinking was extraordinary and he himself was very ordinary. The weaknwess of journalism in today's Bangladesh is clearly visible. Speakers asked whether journalism as a profession in dictatorship-free Bangladesh is enjoying real freedom.

Eminent poet Sohrab Hasan, joint editor of Prothom Alo, former president of Jatiya Press Club and former president of BFUG Shaukat Mahmud, former president of BFUJ and managing director of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust M Abdullah, former acting president of Dhaka Union of Journalists and convenor of Nationalist Journalist Forum and famous rhymer Abu Saleh, late Ataus Samad's nephew Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat, Acting Secretary General of BFU Bachir Jamal, former General Secretary of DUJ and Member Secretary of Nationalist Journalist Forum Jahangir Alam Pradhan, Vice President of BFUJ AKM Mohsin, Assistant Secretary General of BFUJ Dr. Sadequl Islam Swapan, news editor Zahed Chowdhury of Dainik Amar Desh and others spoke at the function.

The meeting was conducted by senior journalist and poet Shamima Chowdhury.