Today marks the 56th death anniversary of Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah, the founding editor of The Daily Ittefaq and one of the key figures who helped transform the anti-Ayub Khan military rule movement, the movement for Bengali national identity, and the Six-Point Movement of the 1960s into a mass uprising.
This remarkable journalist breathed his last at the age of 58 on June 1, 1969, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. In the world of journalism in this country, Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah is a name that will never be forgotten.
His love for the common people has made him an immortal figure in the hearts of Bengalis. Manik Miah was not just a journalist in the conventional sense—he was a courageous and visionary figure who used journalism as a means to pave the path for the people's emancipation.
By founding The Daily Ittefaq, Manik Miah adopted journalism as a lifelong tool for resistance, remaining steadfast, intellectual, and patriotic in his pursuit of justice.
He was relentless in fighting against the oppression and exploitation of the Pakistani regime. For this reason, he became widely known among Bengalis as a “fearless journalist.”
The role that Ittefaq played in East Pakistan was truly in response to the demands of the time. Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah’s firm stance on the demand for autonomy for East Pakistan, Ittefaq’s journalism, and the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were aligned and inseparable.
Despite the threats from military dictators and authoritarian rulers, the example of fearless journalism set by Manik Miah remains rare in world history. Although he was a politically aware journalist, he never harbored personal political ambition or greed.
This allowed him to speak the truth with honesty and integrity. He stood firm on his principles despite facing imprisonment, torture, oppression, and lack of cooperation from the government.
Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah was born in 1911 in Bhandaria, Pirojpur district. His father was Moslem Uddin Miah. Manik Miah lost his mother in childhood. He began his education at the Purba Bhandaria Model Primary School.
He passed matriculation with distinction from Pirojpur District Government High School and earned his B.A. degree with distinction from Barisal BM College in 1935.
After completing his studies, he began his career at the Pirojpur District Civil Court. While working there, in 1937, he married Majeda Begum, the daughter of Khondkar Abul Hasan from Goaldi village in Bhanga, Faridpur.
In 1947, Manik Miah joined the editorial board of Daily Ittehad, published from Kolkata under the leadership of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. After the paper ceased publication in 1948, he moved to Dhaka and joined the weekly Ittefaq. In 1953, under his editorship, the weekly was transformed into a daily newspaper.
Under Manik Miah’s leadership, The Daily Ittefaq played a vital role in the movement against Ayub Khan’s military regime. In 1959, he was imprisoned for one year for violating martial law.
He was arrested again in 1966. During this time, the publication of Ittefaq was banned and the New Nation Printing Press was seized, forcing the closure of two other newspapers he had founded—Dhaka Times and Purboani.
Faced with mass protests, the government was compelled to lift restrictions on Ittefaq, and the paper resumed publication on February 11, 1969.
In 1964, when riots in Kashmir spread to Dhaka, he became the first president of the Riot Resistance Committee. Through his popular columns titled “Rajnoitik Dhongabaji” (Political Deception), “Rajnoitik Moncho” (Political Stage), and “Rongomoncho” (Theatrical Stage), Manik Miah inspired people across East Pakistan to rise for independence.
Until his last breath, he worked tirelessly to resist the oppression and exploitation of the Pakistani ruling class. On May 26, 1969, he traveled to Rawalpindi on official business, where he passed away on the night of June 1, 1969.
Commemorative Events:
To mark the occasion, the family has arranged Qur’an recitation at Manik Miah’s Azimpur mausoleum from 8 a.m., followed by prayers and distribution of food at 11 a.m. Qur’an recitation and a prayer service will also be held at an orphanage on behalf of his younger son, Anwar Hossain Manju.
Additionally, his late elder daughter Akhtarun Nahar Baby’s family will organize a Qur’an recitation and prayer gathering at their home after Maghrib prayers.
