Four enlightened personalities honoured by Bangladesh Pratidin

Language veteran Abdul Matin, eminent journalist ABM Musa, BSMMU VC Prof Dr Pran Gopal Datta and popular actor Razzak’s son Samrat on behalf of his father pose for a photograph with former chief justice Mostafa Kamal and Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Nayem Nizam after receiving Bangladesh Pratidin 2012 awards on Sunday. sun photo Country’s largest-circulating daily ‘Bangladesh Protidin, an outfit of East West Media Group, honoured four enlightened personalities for their outstanding contribution to society and national development from their respective fields. Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin, eminent journalist-columnist ABM Musa, popular actor Razzak and Professor Dr Pran Gopal Dutta received mementos of honours at a function Saturday. On behalf of the Bangladesh Protidin, former Chief Justice Mostafa Kamal handed them a crest and cheque for one-lakh taka each at the programme titled ‘Bangladesh Protidin-2012 Sommanona’ held at the East West Media Group conference room in the city’s Bashundhara Residen-tial Area. Abdul Matin, ABM Musa and Pran Gopal Dutta and Razzak’s son Samrat on behalf of his father received the honours at the programme held with Editor of Bangladesh Protidin Nayem Nizam in the chair. Acting editor of the daily sun Md Jamilur Rahman, Editor of the daily ‘Kaler Kantha’ Imdadul Haq Milon and Editor-in-Chief of online newspaper banglanews24.com Alamgir Hossain also welcomed the awardees with floral wreaths. Addressing the function as chief guest, former Chief Justice Mostafa Kamal said the country’s media sector has made a remarkable progress. He said, “I used to write in the then Pakistan Observer during my student life. But the media sector was not so developed at the time. Now newspapers are delivering different contributions. Modern media such as online newspaper have become popular.” Mostafa Kamal said, “It’s a praiseworthy task that a newspaper honours enlightened personalities. I feel honoured to hand over crests to them with my own hands. I always will stand by such initiative in the future.” Language leader Abdul Matin, honoured with lifetime award, said, “The more we become Bangalee in our mindset, the more we will be great as a nation. So we have to be true Bengali in our thought, mind and work. A nation that forgets its past can’t be great.” “It is a matter of gladness that Bangladesh Protidin honoured me,” added Matin, better known as Bhasha Matin for leading the 1952 language movement for establishing Bengali as a state language of the erstwhile Pakistan. ABM Musa, who also was honoured with lifetime award, said the media are essential for the country as absence of media creates anarchy. He said, “Journalism is a noble responsibility. Many people think journalism as an easy task, but reality is different. There is necessity for training programmes for journalists.”