The Crime Desk: Today is the 20th death anniversary of Professor Mohammad Khaled, a close comrade of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, one of the members of the Constitution Drafting Committee of Bangladesh, a pioneer of journalism, a beacon of consciousness, and the late editor of the daily Azadi, the first newspaper of independent Bangladesh. On this day in 2003, his illustrious life ended.
Professor Mohammad Khaled was born on July 6, 1922, in Patna, the capital of the state of Bihar in undivided India. His ancestral residence is Darogabari in Sultanpur village, Raujan upazila. In 1942, Bangabandhu came close to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while studying BA at Kolkata Islamia College. While studying at Calcutta University in 1944, he joined the anti-British movement. When the Awami Muslim League was established in 1949, he joined the politics of this party. Later, Maulana Bhasani, Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took the initiative to create the organizational base of the party in the whole country by removing the word Muslim and becoming a completely non-communal party with the name Awami League. In that continuity, Professor Khaled played an important role in creating the foundation of the group in Chittagong. He played an active role in the education movement of 1962, the 6-point movement of 1966, and the mass movement of 1969. In the 1970 Pakistan National Assembly elections, he participated in the Raujan-Hathazari parliamentary seat as Bangabandhu’s nominated candidate and defeated Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, the influential leader of the Pakistan National Assembly and the influential leader of the Muslim League, by a large margin, causing a stir in the whole of Pakistan.
When the non-cooperation movement started in 1971 under the leadership of Bangabandhu, he made a special contribution to accelerating the movement in Chittagong. He was one of the leaders of the Chittagong Sangam Committee, a committee of five members formed at this time to manage the freedom struggle. He was directly involved in the establishment and management of Swadhin Bangla Biplabbi Betar Kendra, established at Kalurghat in Chittagong at the beginning of the Liberation War on March 26. During the liberation war, Mujibnagar was appointed as an advisor to Swadhin Bangla Betar, who was in charge of the information office of the government. Besides, he served as a member of the editorial board of the newspaper ‘Joy Bangla’ published as the mouthpiece of the Mujib Nagar government. Later, he also held important responsibilities in the Department of Foreign Affairs. In 1972, Professor Mohammad Khaled played a role in drafting the constitution of Bangladesh as a member of the 32-member Bangladesh Constitution Committee. In 1973, he participated in the national parliament election and was elected as a member of parliament. In 1975, Bangabandhu appointed him as the Governor of Chittagong North District.
Professor Khaled, who is devoted to Chittagong, formed hundreds of citizens’ committees to play a role in the development of Chittagong and brought everyone on one platform regardless of party affiliation. He was always active in the movement for non-sectarian and free intellectual practice. In his memory, the Chittagong Press Club organizes the ‘Professor Khaled Memorial Lecture’ every year. Chittagong Academy awards the ‘Professor Khaled Shishu Sahitya Award’ every year. Bangla Academy has published his biography and the Chittagong Press Club memorial book. In 2019, Professor Mohammad Mohammad Khaled was awarded the Freedom Award (posthumous) by the Government of Bangladesh.
BTV Chittagong Center: On the occasion of the 20th death anniversary of Daily Azadi’s late editor, Professor Mohammad Khaled, Bangladesh Television Chittagong Center will broadcast a special program ‘Kirtiman Mruthi Nai’ today at 5:30 PM. Daily Azadi editor Ekushey Medalist MA Malek, former president of Chittagong Press Club and South District Awami League vice president Abu Sufian, and Professor Mohammad Khaled’s son slogan editor Mohammad Zahir will commemorate the life and work of Professor Mohammad Khaled at the event. Produced by Mohammad Morshed, the program was presented by poet-journalist Kamrul Hasan Badal.
