The Daily Ittefaq

The Daily Ittefaq

200px Daily Ittefaq Masthead
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Broadsheet and Online Edition
Owner(s)	Ittefaq Group of Publications Ltd.
Founder(s)	Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and Yar Mohammad Khan
Publisher	Mohibul Ahsan Shawon
Editor	Anwar Hossain Manju
Founded	24 December, 1953
Language	Bengali
Headquarters	40, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka 1205; Kazlarper Demra, Dhaka 1232 Dhaka Bangladesh
Website	[1]

The Daily Ittefaq (Bengali: দৈনিক ইত্তেফাক Doinik Ittefak) is a Bengali daily newspaper. It is one of the most circulated newspapers in Bangladesh. This newspaper is printed by Ittefaq Group of Publications Limited.

Colonial era

The Ittefaq was first published as a weekly paper on December 24, 1953 by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and Yar Mohammad Khan, its founders and publishers and also the founders and treasurers of Bangladesh Awami League. As both were actively involved politics and the anti-Pakistan movement, they appointed Tofazzal Hossain, who was working in Kolkata at the time, as its editor. The newspaper incorrectly displays Tofazzal Hossain as its founder.

In the colonial era it publicized the negligence and colonial mindset of Pakistan leaders to East Pakistan. As a result, the government acted against its editors and journalists. Tofazzal Hossain's post editorial column ‘Rajnaitik Mancha’ (political platform) became popular in East Pakistan. During the Bengali Language Movement era, The Daily Ittefaq played a vital role. Ittefaq had a significant role in the 1954 general elections, and it contributed to the victory of the United Front. In 1958, Tofazzal Hossain changed the name of the original founder and publisher and replaced it with his name. Ittefaq always strongly opposed all military rule of Pakistan starting from Ayub Khan to Yahya Khan.

The Ittefaq supported the Six Point Program of Awami League during the mid-1960s and helped publish its ideas. Ittefaq quickly emerged as the voice of East Pakistan citizens. President Ayub Khan censored its publication from June 17 to July 11, 1966, and then again from July 17, 1966 to February 9, 1969. Tofazzal Hossain was imprisoned several times.

Hossain died on June 1, 1969; the newspaper was subsequently managed by his two sons, Mainul Hosein and Anwar Hossain.

Role in Liberation War of Bangladesh

The Ittefaq's office was burnt down and completely demolished on March 25, 1971 by the Pakistan army as part of Operation Searchlight. It was all in ruins and there was not a sign of life there. Publication did not resume until 21 May 1971 under direct control of Pakistani officials. The newspaper received about Taka 10,00,000 as compensation from the Pakistan government. Barrister Mainul Hosein started publishing the newspaper from Daily Pakistan Press. Largely funded by the Pakistan Government, Ittefaq became the mouthpiece of Yahya Khan's government, criticising the Bangladesh Liberation War severely.

After the newspaper The Daily Sangram called Serajuddin Hossain, (also transliterated Seraj Uddin Hossain), executive editor Daily Ittefaq, the editor was abducted 10 December 1971 and never found. During Bangladesh's war crimes trials in 2012, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, a Jamaat-e-Islami party member, was charged with Hossain's murder.

Present

Ownership was returned to Manik Mia’s sons after nationalization on 24 August 1975. Today, Anwar Hossain is the editor. Ittefaq features all the standard sections of a modern daily newspaper like political news, sports, education, entertainment and general and local news.

Online edition

This newspaper offers a daily Bengali electronic edition on its website and an English edition aimed at a younger audience.

See also

• List of newspapers in Bangladesh
• BD Newspaper