Mass Media's Lighthouse Shafik Rehman

 
Veteran journalist and a guardian-like figure for Bangladesh's mass media Shafik Rehman is turning 90 today. During this long, eventful, decorated and substantial life, Shafik Rehman has contributed enormously to the growth and forward march of media houses in our country both on print and electronic terrains. Iconic and evergreen legends like Shafik Rehman are rarely born. So, I am under ethical obligations to write a few words on him on this big day in his life.

Shafik Rehman was born on 11 November 1934 in Bogura. He acquired higher academic qualifications from Dhaka College, Dhaka University and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Shafik Rehman is a classic blend of multidisciplinary intellectual height. He has played outstanding roles in creating a broad number of efficient journalists for both Bengali and English newspapers. Lots of esteemed media luminaries in Bangladesh regard Shafik Rehman as their mentor.

Shafik Rehman's extensively popular Bengali magazine Jai Jai Din impressed, enthralled and spellbound readers in all corners of Bangladesh for a few decades before tyrannical crackdown was hammered on media outlets over last several years. Jai Jai Din also emerged as a catchy daily Bengali newspaper but could not move forward smoothly because of the unwanted encroachments on media houses during the immediate past overthrown repressive regime. Shafik Rehman's columns and humorous but evocative write-ups delighted and attracted readers from all walks of life. Shafik Rehman anchored two highly adulated television programs during his journalism career-Sonar Horeen (Golden Deer) and Lal Golap (Red Rose). Lal Golap was a broad-scale and highly entertaining television program which included history, fun, documentaries, interviews and some other enticing and educative content for spectators of all ages. Lal Golap was earlier screened by Bangladesh Television (BTV) but later on it was broadcasted by Bangla Vision, a private satellite channel, for some years.

Shafik Rehman is a brisk and scintillating lighthouse for mass media in Bangladesh. His strong and devoted accomplishment in familiarizing Bangladesh's young generation with the constructive cultural trends of the prosperous western countries has stood the test of time. Shafik Rehman first introduced Valentine's Day in Bangladesh during the 1990s which is celebrated globally on 14 February. Earlier on people in Bangladesh had no idea about Valentine's Day and the significance of love in transforming the world. Shafik Rehman ushered in the timeless watchword "Amor Vincit Omnia" (love conquers everything). The craze and fame Shafik Rehman had generated among young readers, viewers and followers are just unmatched. During the autocratic ruling period of late President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Shafik Rehman wrote and published courageous and uncompromising articles and opinion pieces. Shafik Rehman is an emboldened reflection of the maxim that the pen is mightier than the sword. Shafik Rehman's profile as a trailblazer in the field of fearless journalism is larger than life. Like ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, Shafik Rehman enlightened and guided Bangladesh's youths to upgrade them on equal terms with the developed countries in the west. From this point of view Shafik Rehman deserves to be bestowed with the echelon "Bangladesh's Socrates".

Shafik Rehman launched Spectrum Radio in England in 1990 which was inaugurated by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Spectrum Radio became the most popular radio station in Greater London very fast. Shafik Rehman represented Bangladesh by working as a dexterous journalist for BBC. He also worked hard in the United Kingdom to garner international support for Bangladesh while the Liberation War of 1971 was going on. Shafik Rehman visited The Asian Age office in 2016 and gave an interview. During this exclusive interview Shafik Rehman accorded some sagacious suggestions to The Asian Age which are actually applicable for the whole gamut of Bangladesh's mass media.

Shafik Rehman's father Principal Syedur Rahman (1909-1987) was one of the most respected teachers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman but Bangabandhu's daughter former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid no tribute to Syedur Rahman on his birthdays or death anniversaries during her tenure. Syedur Rahman was a teacher of former Jamaat leader Shafiqul Islam too.

Shafik Rehman is equally competent in Bengali and English languages both in written and verbal forms.

Shafik Rehman was subjected to unspeakable harassment, trials and tribulations by Sheikh Hasina inimically indicting him with totally fabricated charges of conspiring to murder Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. A police officer had filed the fictitious case with the capital's Paltan Police Station on 3 August 2015. Shafik Rehman was arrested in connection with this case back on 16 April 2016. Later on he was released on bail and had to leave the country. Shafik Rehman, out of displeasure and utter agonies, abstained from writing anything during these longer than six years time. Anyway, this extraordinary pioneer of sophisticated journalism came back to Bangladesh on 18 August 2024. Journalists all over Bangladesh belonging to both print and electronic media are now feeling uplifted that their much adored drillmaster is back home at last.

Shafik Rehman added an unprecedented dimension of innovative skills, modernism and creativity to journalism in Bangladesh which made him unparalleled with the total arena of mass media in our country. When he was being tormented with false cases, he said that all animals caged inside zoos should be released. He urged the authorities concerned to withdraw oppression on journalists and surveillance on freedom of expression. Shafik Rehman is a selfless champion of humanism who wants death penalty to be abrogated. Many developed as well as under developed countries don't have death sentence in their penal codes like the United Kingdom, Denmark, Netherlands, Cambodia, Paraguay, Mozambique, Namibia etcetera. Shafik Rehman reminds us of the immemorial saying from monumental American poet Walt Whitman "Hate sins, not sinners".

Shafik Rehman is related to me through family bonds but I value him from the standpoint of meritocracy. We would sincerely request Shafik Rehman to pick up his mighty pen and to restart writing because the whole nation has been waiting for years after years to read his precious words once again. On the auspicious event of Shafik Rehman's 90th birthday, I would like to have the privilege of wishing him many happy returns of the day.