Wednesday | 15 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
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Wednesday | 15 January 2025 | Epaper

Bazlur Rahman — An emblem of modernity and honesty

Published : Sunday, 5 March, 2017 at 12:00 AM  Count : 274
Haradhan Ganguly
On February 26, 2008, he left us forever. Whenever we observe the anniversary of his death or birth, his memories become even more pronounced. Bazlur Rahman whom we fondly called 'Bhaia', returns to us through our memories and words. His works has kept him alive. Wordsworth wrote: "In vacant or in pensive mood, they flash upon that inward eye, which is the bliss of solitude." Bhaia's memories, thus, shrouds us in grief for a moment after which we smile in reminiscence of his words and actions.
In his long professional career in journalism, Bazlur Rahman reached an incomparable height. An introverted man who was averse to publicity, not many could claim to know Bhaia in totality, except those who knew him closely. However, it is only after his death that we learnt of his popularity as a person. People from all strata of life thronged his funeral procession to show their last respect for this unforgettable man. His death caused a perennial loss somewhere for everyone, even beyond his family, to be felt in the days to come. Not only his colleagues, fellows, progressive intelligentsia but even ordinary people mourned his death, despite not knowing him personally.
A middle-class Bangali taking on, Bazlur Rahman Bhaia was vehemently against feudal culture. A man of modern thought and a non-communalist, his beliefs were not limited to any dogmatism. His evolving political and ideological stance has a sense of vibrancy and dynamism and ultimately reached a destination of rationality where Bangali nationalism, secularism, inclusiveness of economic progress and nonexistence of disparity were highlighted.
In his profession as a journalist, he was a catalyst in spearheading the struggle for economic emancipation of the nation and played a vibrant role in the War of Liberation. After the independence of Bangladesh, he struggled relentlessly towards building a resilient, productive and caring society, comprising of healthy and well-educated people. His dream had always been to create a society in which every man had equal opportunities to achieve his or her fullest potential, where all men and women would enjoy a quality of life commensurate with the development stage of the nation, where all men and women would be prepared to meet the human resource needs of a modern, progressive, and technologically advancing nation. He also envisioned a people that would have respect for the principles of democracy, rule of law, human rights, ensuring gender equality and rights of people irrespective of caste, colour and creed. These were Bazlur Rahman's guiding philosophies enshrined in his daily life, which made him different.  These were Bazlur Rahman's guiding philosophies enshrined in his daily life, which made him different. His sharp views and silent steadfastness fortified his stance enough to fight left leaning dogmatic 'gharana'.
His qualities of directness and sharp-wittedness had overwhelmed many who carried out arguments, dialogues and conversations with him. He would call a spade a spade and that is why Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina once called him her best critique at home. His sharp acumen and the retentive capacity of mind in his professional career were really admirable. His sincerity and seriousness regarding journalism taught established as well as aspiring journalists to imbibe these qualities in their professional life. It is thus difficult to fill the gap created by his absence in the journalistic field of Bangladesh.
Bazlur Rahman was not only an eminent journalist and editor. He was a successful organiser of the children's movement in Bangladesh through 'Khelaghar' which has become one of the largest children's organisations in the country, only because of his farsighted guidance.  His death still could not stop lakhs of children and their organizers to call him their 'BHAIA'. Still, the word 'Bhaia' is used to allude to Bazlur Rahman all over. His contribution is the amalgamation of the works of being a successful journalist and a successful children organizer. No one who met him would deny this fact.
Bhaia is no more with us but his teachings, his values will always enlighten our ways to proceed on.r
Haradhan Ganguly is a freelance contributor and Secretary, United Nations Association of Bangladesh (UNAB)
Email: gharadhan@gmail.com







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