Mahbub Anam's 11th anniversary of death today

Staff Correspondent

Today is the 11th death anniversary of eminent journalist and author Mahbub Anam, former editor of The Bangladesh Times. In a distinguished career as a journalist, he also served as a senior executive of the then Pakistan Observer and senior vice-president of the Bangladesh Editors Council. He was actively involved with Bangladesh Sangbad-patra Parishad, Bangladesh Press Council and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Porichalona Board. Mahbub Anam, for contributions to journalism, received the Swadhinata Padak, Sher-e-Bangla Gold Medal, Moulana Akram Khan Gold Medal, Kaloddhani Padak and Tribhuj Gold Medal. Besides, in a long and successful professional career, he also served as the general manager of Jamuna Oil Company and director of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation. Mahbub Anam was actively involved in politics from his student life. In addition to being the general secretary of Salimullah Muslim Hall of Dhaka University in 1954-55, he was appointed acting publication secretary of Jukta Front on behalf of Awami League in 1954. Mahbub Anam actively took part in the Language Movement of 1952. He was jailed several times for his role in the movement as general secretary of Tamaddun Majlish, Mymensingh unit, joint secretary of the Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad and general secretary of Salimullah Muslim Hall. In recognition of his contribution to the language movement, he was awarded the “Bhasha Andoloner Bir Sainik Padak” by the then president, Ziaur Rahman, and Matribhasha Padak (posthumously) by Tamaddun Majlish. Mahbub Anam authored a number of books on the cultural and political identity of Bangladesh including “Amra Bangladeshi Amra Bangalee” and “Itihasher Shikriti Bonam Bikriti”. He also served as the president of Nattyamancho Bangladesh and Bangladesh Sahitya Sangskriti Kendro and was actively involved with Bangladesh Film Censor Board and Bangladesh Public Library Special Committee. Mahbub Anam was the second son of eminent litterateur, journalist and politician late Abul Mansur Ahmad and elder brother of Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star.