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Remembering Mahmud Bhai

Syed Muazzem Au
ON this day five years ago, our dear cousin Abu Sayeed Mahmud died in self-exile in London. After he was forced to leave Dhaka in August 2002, he had not been keeping well. A bubbling, enthusiastic and energetic Mahmud Bhai was reduced to a depressed and brokenhearted man. He suffered a severe stroke in November 2003, and went into coma a few days before his death. He was buried in London according to his wishes. What a sad end to the life of an illustrious and patriotic son of the nation.
He was an astute entrepreneur and wise investor, a former Chamber president, a fierce nationalist, an affectionate brother, a charming personality, a visionary and a perfect gentleman. Two of his most significant legacies are The Daily Star and Ekushey Television.
Mahmud Bhai inspired my late brother S.M. Ali to launch The Daily Star. He launched Mediaworld, the company that owns the newspaper.
The Daily Star was born on January 14, 1991. It attracted readers through its objective reporting, hard-hitting editorials, the editor’s "My world" column, and its stylish layout. The international exposure of late S. M. Ali, its founding editor, was visible all over the paper, while the management of late A. S. Mahmud, its founding managing director, made it the largest English daily in the country within a short time.
If late S.M. Ali is given credit for setting new standards in our journalism, Mahmud Bhai should be credited for creating the institutional base for the launching of the newspaper. The personal equation between the two cousins established a new corporate culture in newspaper management in
the country. A line was drawn between the board members and the internal management of the newspaper. The editor and his team had full freedom to run the paper.
After establishing The Daily Star, Mahmud Bhai launched the first terrestrial private channel, Ekushey television, on April 14, 2000. He sought the services of Simon Dring, a well-known British media personality. He never interfered in the internal management, and Simon, as the founding managing director, was given full freedom to arrange his programs.
Simon trained a new crop of electronic journalists. ETV soon emerged as a new trendsetter in the world of television in the country. Mahmud Bhai had a sharp business sense, and fantastic managerial skill, and was also versatile, creative and sensitive.
I once asked him why Ekushey was telecasting its Bangla news at 7:30 in the
evening, instead of on-the-hour news program of BTV and private channels. His reply was that the news-hungry people of the country had been listening to the BBC Bangla news at that hour since 1971. Thus, all that ETV had to do was to offer the day's news with the same degree of objectivity and professional skill of BBC to attract those listeners/viewers.
What a gutsy endeavour, David against Goliath! Ekushey Bangla news was a resounding success. The Ekushey news was appreciated for its objectivity, professionalism and smart presentations. Their news team members became household names in the capital. Even after a decade, these professionals are running half a dozen private channels in the country.
It is a pity that ETV was closed down on August 29, 2002 on the basis of a court order. Due to constant threats to their security, Mahmud Bhai and his family were forced to leave the country
soon thereafter. Simon Dring was also expelled from Bangladesh. What was their crime? Were they partisans, or frauds, as their detractors claimed? Millions of Ekushey viewers are the best judges on the issue.
It is a matter of great satisfaction to the viewers that Ekushey television was allowed to resume its satellite broadcast on December 26, 2006, and there is a growing public demand to allow the channel to resume their terrestrial transmission soon.
Mahmud Bhai is not with us today but his creations remain. The people of Bangladesh will always remember him for his outstanding contributions in the development of free media in the country. His friends and associates will remember him for his sterling qualities. To his relations he will always remain a shining example to emulate. The man, who inspired many of his expatriate relatives to return home, was so gravely hurt by the then-government's treatment of him, that he refused to be buried in the country he loved so much. May Allah rest his soul in peace.
Syed Muazzem Ali is a former foreign secretary of Bangladesh.