Why journalists will remember Latifur Rahman

Latifur Rahman

Latifur Rahman was best known as a successful entrepreneur and industrialist. He is set apart from all other businesspersons and industrialists due to the high standard of ethics he had set. He had so many human qualities that are nowadays absent among many successful persons, particularly among the business community. His absence will be sorely felt in the world of commerce and industry in the days to come. However, it is in the newspaper industry and the field of independent journalism that his void will probably never be filled.

As an entrepreneur, whatever project he took up became a success. The 16 companies that he created now employ over 17,000 people. Year after year he was awarded as a top taxpayer. These are all his significant contributions to the country. But in my consideration, his greatest contribution is his unshakeable patronage and protection of independent journalism.

History shows that those who have published newspapers in the past have invariably done with two motives in mind – politics or business. Muslim League, Awami League, NAP, Communist Party, JSD, everyone had their own newspapers. Ittefaq, Azad, Millat, Janapad, Ganakantha were all published in political interests.

There were the government newspapers too. Then gradually businesspersons began moving towards newspaper publication. Many of them saw newspaper publication as a step towards becoming a minister or to boosting business. This trend continues for both newspapers and television channels.

Latifur Rahman emerged as an exception. He invested in newspaper, but his name, nor that of anyone in his family, appeared as publisher or editor. I don’t recall this happening in the case of any other newspaper. He formed the company and remained behind the scenes and gave absolute independence to professional journalists.

Most of those would have amassed their wealth after the independence of Bangladesh, have second homes in the West or the Middle East or in Southeast Asia. He never took that option. His commitment to independent journalism probably was part of that patriotism.

Both Prothom Alo and Daily Star have maintained a neutral stance and upheld the truth, thus proving to be a thorn in the flesh for all governments. It was even the same during the caretaker government. Prothom Alo particularly faced adversity as it is a Bangla newspaper with a huge circulation. Latifur Rahman had to face the ire and harassment of the state and the government time and again because of these newspapers, but he still never interfered in the independent journalism of these newspapers.

It is difficult to understand the mental strength of this man who had been torn asunder by the tragic deaths of his daughter and grandson. He was never perturbed by threats and coercion from the ruling coterie, no matter which party was in power. Just last year he had been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Commission to give an account of his wealth. He went, accompanied by his physician.

Over the past decade they had been vitriol spewed against him in the parliament. Even during the ‘1/11’ government, files and documents were taken from his Transcom office. For over a year there were efforts to frame him. Certain envious business groups tried to use the political pressure mounting against him to spread false rumours, but he never compromised.

He never for once intervened in the independent news and views published in Prothom Alo and the Daily Star. As journalists, we place him in highest esteem for this unwavering faith and support for independent journalism. If his successors follow his principles, Bangladesh will stand to benefit and his achievements will last long.

There are at present many successful businesspersons in Bangladesh, but Latifur Rahman stood apart. He had unquestionable patriotism. He would often proudly say, “We are people of Bangladesh. I have confidence in this country. We have never applied for citizenship of any other country.”

Most of those would have amassed their wealth after the independence of Bangladesh, have second homes in the West or the Middle East or in Southeast Asia. He never took that option. His commitment to independent journalism probably was part of that patriotism. After all, a country can never be complete without an independent media.

I knew him through journalism too. I interviewed him for BBC Radio several times over telephone. I met him face-to-face for the first time in 2013. That was at the Prothom Alo office. When I would live in Dhaka, I met him several times in the following years too. However, two of my interactions with him were particularly significant.

He faced all sorts of pressure and harassment because of these two newspapers, but he never compromised. It is for this incomparable achievement that he will be forever remembered in the history of Bangladesh’s news media.

Many eminent guests were attending Prothom Alo’s anniversary in November 2013. Among them was the renowned Indian journalist Kuldip Nayyar, the former Indian high commissioner to Dhaka, Deb Mukherjee, renowned American journalist Lawrence Lifshcultz, managing director of Egypt’s newspaper Al-Ahram, Kamal Ali Gabala, CEO of Times of India at the time, Ravi Dhaiwal, Anandabazar Patrika’s news editor at the time, Heerak Bandhapadhaya, Nepal’s Kathmandu Post news editor Mukuk Humagain, Prothom Alo’s Delhi correspondent Soumya Bandhapadhaya and few more Indian journalists. Editor Matiur Rahman had asked me come from London too, probably to persuade me to join Prothom Alo in Dhaka. Latifur Rahman invited all these guests to dinner at his home. The warm hospitality of his family and himself towards the guests is unforgettable.

I met him on several occasions after that and every time he came forward to ask after my well being. Once, in the Prothom Alo boardroom at CA Bhabhan, we were discussing challenges to journalism and the newspaper crisis in various countries. New York Times, Guardian and such newspapers cropped up in the conversation. He said that the necessity of journalism hadn’t diminished, particularly of quality journalism. His target was to expand and enrich the Daily Star and Prothom Alo even further. It was for the sustainable development of independent journalism rather than about his investment.

More important than personal memories is to remember, adopt and uphold his principles and values. These qualities will certainly be maintained in his business companies. But the importance of his contribution to media and journalism is quite another matter. This is all the more significant in context of our country.

Giving due respect to editorial independence, he established two successful newspapers of two different languages in the country and set a new benchmark in the newspaper industry. He faced all sorts of pressure and harassment because of these two newspapers, but he never compromised. It is for this incomparable achievement that he will be forever remembered in the history of Bangladesh’s news media.

Kamal Ahmed is a senior journalist. This piece appeared in Prothom Alo print and online editions and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir.