Crime Desk: Today is the 19th death anniversary of the late editor of daily Azadi, the first newspaper of independent Bangladesh, one of the members of the constitution drafting committee of the world of journalism, the beacon of spirit of the pioneer of journalism. On this occasion, the deceased’s grave will be visited and various programs will be celebrated. On the occasion of Professor Mohammad Khaled’s death anniversary, Bangladesh Television Chittagong Center will broadcast a special program today at 4 pm. Besides, a memorial meeting has been organized at S Rahman Hall of Chittagong Press Club at 5 pm.
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 Daroga house of Sultanpur village of Raujan upazila. Father Abdul Hadi, mother Tamanna Begum.
In 1942, Bangabandhu came close to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while studying in the BA class at Kolkata Islamia College. While studying at Calcutta University in 1944, he joined the anti-British movement. When 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 entire 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 education movement of 1962, 6-point movement of 1966, mass movement of 1969. As Bangabandhu’s nominated candidate in the 1970 Pakistan National Assembly elections, he participated in the Rauzan-Hathazari parliamentary seat for the Awami League and defeated the then Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly and the influential leader of the Muslim League, Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, by a large margin, causing astonishment in the whole of Pakistan.
When the non-cooperation movement started in 1971 under the leadership of Bangabandhu, he made a special contribution in accelerating the movement in Chittagong. He was one of the leaders of the Chittagong Sangam Committee of 5 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 as the 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. In 2019, he received the Freedom Award (posthumously). Prof. Khaled, who is devoted to Chittagong, formed a committee of hundreds of citizens to play a role in the development of Chittagong and brought everyone to a platform regardless of party affiliation. He served as the Chairman of Victory Mela of Liberation War. He was firm and pious.
He was always active in the movement of non-communal and free intellectual practice. In his memory Chittagong Press Club organizes ‘Professor Khaled Memorial Lecture’ every year. Chittagong Academy awards ‘Professor Khaled Shishu Sahitya Award’ every year in February. Recently Bangla Academy published his biography. He died on this day in 2003 after serving as the editor of Dainik Azadi for almost 42 years.
