Mohammad Atikullah Khan Masud
Atikullah Khan Masud | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 August 1951 |
| Died | 22 March 2021 |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, editor, publisher |
| Known for | Founder and Editor of Daily Janakantha |
Atikullah Khan Masud (29 August 1951 – 22 March 2021) was a Bangladeshi journalist, editor, and publisher, best known as the founder and editor of the Bangla daily newspaper, Daily Janakantha.[1] He was the chairperson of Globe Janakantha Shilpa Paribar.[2]
Early life
[edit]Masud was born on 29 August 1951 in Medini Mandal, Munshiganj District, East Bengal, Pakistan.[3]
Career
[edit]Masud founded Globe Janakantha Shilpa Paribar in 1969 as a 17-year-old college student.[4] He exported betel leaf from East Pakistan to West Pakistan taking an advantage of the price difference between the two wings of Pakistan.[4] He fought in the Bangladesh War of Independence under Sector 2 of the Mukti Bahini.[4] He finished college after the Independence of Bangladesh.[5]
Masud established Globe Insecticides Limited in 1978, becoming the largest manufacturer of insecticides in Bangladesh.[4] He founded Globe Metal Complex Limited in 1990 with technical support from China.[4]
Masud launched the Daily Janakantha in 1993, becoming one of Bangladesh's prominent national newspapers.[2] It was the first newspaper in Bangladesh to be published across the country simultaneously using a microwave system.[2] He established Globe Khamar Prokalpa Limited in 1997 and Globe Construction Limited in 1998.[4]
Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh planned an attack on Masud in 2004 but failed to carry it out.[6]
Masud was arrested in March 2007 by joint police and military forces under the Caretaker government from the Janakantha office in Eskaton; the same night Tareque Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was arrested.[7][8] He was taken to his residence in Dhaka Cantonment, the residence was then searched.[8] He was sent to Dhaka Central Jail under the Special Powers Act, 1974.[9][10]
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed four cases against Masud along with several former Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) officials, for corruption and document theft.[11] The allegations include illegally obtaining building design approvals and stealing official documents with the help of complicit RAJUK personnel.[11] Three RAJUK cases involve unauthorised approvals and concealment of corruption evidence, while the fourth case accuses Masud and his family of hiding assets worth approximately BDT 14 million.[11] The cases were filed by ACC Deputy Assistant Director Mahmud Hasan at Motijheel and Ramna police stations.[11]
Masud was charged with 15 crimes,[10] including corruption and propaganda against the government.[4] The Daily Star reported in January 2008 Masud and other prisoners were overstaying at the VIP inmate cell of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.[4] After the report, he was sent back to jail.[12] In March, he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in one case.[10] In September, some journalists wrote to the government for his bail on health grounds.[10] He was freed after the Awami League came to power in 2009.[4]
In 2015, Masud was found guilty of contempt of court by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha over an article on the war crimes trial against Salauddin Quader Chowhudry.[13] In March 2016, an arrest warrant was issued against Masud over an alleged defamatory article on Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha which alleged he was a member of the Shanti Bahini in 1971.[14] In the same case, warrants were issued against his colleagues Toab Khan and Swadesh Roy.[14] The case was filed by Arfan Uddin Khan, president of the Dhaka Metropolitan Bar Association.[14] The Supreme Court also asked him to surrender in a forgery case from his 2007 detention.[15]
Bibliography
[edit]Personal life
[edit]Masud was married and had two sons.[16]
Death
[edit]Masud died on 22 March 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[2] According to reports, he was rushed to Evercare Hospital around 5:30 am after suffering from breathing complications and was declared dead shortly afterwards.[2][17] President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and deputy leader of the opposition Golam Mohammad Quader sent condolences following his death.[18][2] Editors' Council President Mahfuz Anam and General Secretary Naem Nizam sent their condolences.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Janakantha Editor dead". The Daily Observer (Bangladesh). Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Janakantha Editor Atikullah Khan Masud passes away". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 22 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Janakantha Editor Atikullah Khan passes away". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Atiqullah Khan Masud no more". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "GLOBE-Janakhantha". Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "Trail of terror attacks". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "Jalil, Babar, Sheikh Selim, Altaf, Mintoo, others held in massive drive". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Tarique held at midnight". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "Tarique remanded in extortion case". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 9 March 2007. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Atiqullah Khan Masud". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Shinepukur top shots sued for Tk 108cr graft". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 1 October 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "14 VIPs go back to jail in a week". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 29 January 2008. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "Janakantha editor, executive editor found guilty of contempt". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b c "Court orders arrest of Janakantha editor, two others over 'defamatory' article against chief justice". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "Janakantha editor asked to surrender". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "Daily Janakantha editor Atiqullah Khan Masud no more". Prothomalo. 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
- ^ "Janakantha Editor Atikullah Khan passes away". The Business Standard. 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Janakantha Editor Atikullah Khan passes away". Dhaka Post. Retrieved 6 May 2025.