DHAKA, Oct 1, 2024 (BSS) - Speakers at a civic memorial meeting today said that Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) president Ruhul Amin Gazi was an uncompromising journalist leader, saying he always led the bread and butter movement of journalists from the front.

A courageous leader like Ruhul Amin Ghazi is rare in the arena of journalism, they said, adding that whenever the country's democracy, independence and sovereignty faced challenges, Gazi made strong protest against those.

BFUJ and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) organized the civic mourning meeting at the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) here commemorating noted journalist Ruhul Amin Gazi, who breathed his last on September 24 during undergoing treatment at a city hospital.

Leaders of journalists and different political parties spoke at the condolence meeting.
 
The speakers said despite being sick during the recent anti-fascist movement, he joined the protest on the street and inspired other journalists to wage strong demonstration

Gazi's death caused a void in the arena of journalism, they added.

Though Gazi, a leader of the highest body of journalists, had been suffering from kidney ailment, the speakers said, the fascist Sheikh Hasina government arrested him and kept him in jail for 17 months.

He was not given proper treatment in jail and by showing negligence to his treatment, the fascist government gradually pushed him towards death, they added.

The speakers demanded filing a murder case against the autocratic Awami League government and the then jailer and physicians of the jail.

 They (jailer and physicians) should be arrested and tried, the speakers said.

DUJ President Md Shahidul Islam presided over the meeting while BNP Standing Committee Member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain spoke as the chief guest.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Professor Mia Golam Parwar, Adviser to BNP Chairperson Abdus Salam, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Ameer of Dhaka City South Unit of Jamaat Nurul Islam Bulbul and Fast Security Islami Bank Chairman and former journalist leader Dr Abdul Mannan spoke as special guests. 

BFUJ acting President Obaidur Rahman Shaheen, Secretary General Quader Gani Chowdhury and former Secretary General MA Aziz, former President of DUJ Elahi Newaz Khan Saju, former JPC President Kamal Uddin Sabuj, incumbent JPC President Poet Hasan Hafiz, former Editor of the New Nation Mustafa Kamal Mazumder, former General Secretaries of DUJ Muhammad Baker Hossain and Sardar Farid Ahmad, former General Secretaries of JPC Syed Abdal Ahmed and Elias Khan, former Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) President Mursalin Nomani, Vice Presidents of BFUJ Khairul Bashar and AKM Mohsin, Organizing Secretary Erfanul Haque Nahid, Publicity Secretary Sajahan Saju, vice presidents of DUJ Rafiq Muhammad and Rashedul Haque, Amar Desh News Editor Jahed Chowdhury, Chittagong Metropolitan Union of Journalist (CMUJ) President Shahnewaz, Feni Union of Journalists (FUJ) President Siddique Al Mamun and Munshiganj Union of Journalists (MUJ) Vice President Jasim Uddin also spoke at the meeting.

Besides, Ruhul Amin Gazi's son Affan Abrar Amin recalled memories of his father. 

DUJ General Secretary Khurshid Alam, BFUJ Joint Secretary General Bachir Jamal, DUJ Joint Secretary Didarul Alam Didar and DUJ Treasurer Khandaker Alamgir Hossain conducted the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr AZM Zahid 
Hossain said, "It is hard to believe that Ruhul Amin Gazi Bhai is no more among us. I knew him since the anti-Ershad movement".
 
Gazi was a courageous leader and he showed his bravery even in adverse situation, he said, adding, though he (Gazi) was sick, he led a demonstration of professionals on the streets in front of the JPC a day before the fascist Awami League government collapsed on August 5.

Noting that one of Gazi's kidneys had to be amputated, Dr Zahid said such patients need regular treatment, but he was sent to jail and not given medical treatment. 

"He was pushed towards death. He is basically a martyr of the anti-dictatorship movement," the BNP leader added.

Jamaat Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Parwar said, "We are feeling at the death of Ruhul Amin Gazi Bhai. I was a member of Khulna Press Club. I knew Gazi Bhai since then".

Honest and courageous leadership like Gazi is rare, he said, adding, he had no fear of death and timidity.

He protested against all black laws affecting journalism and led different demonstrations including the anti-dictatorship movement, Parwar said, adding, "Therefore, he had to suffer torture in prison for 17 months and his family was subjected to mental torture".

Adviser to BNP Chairperson Abdus Salam said Ruhul Amin Ghazi was a name of unity in the arena of journalism. 

From the front, Gazi led in the struggle to free democracy and movement against fascism, he said, adding, he (Gazi) is no more, but the cohorts of the fascist government remain in the new government.
 
The interim government is running the state keeping the cohorts of the Awami fascist government beside them, Salam said, adding, they (interim government) should remember that they got the opportunity to run the state as a result of student-people movement. 

"If they make mistakes, they will have the same fate as Hasina," he said.

BFUJ Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury said Ruhul Amin Ghazi led the journalists for 40 years. 

"Not only this, he waged movement to protect the democracy and against the fascism. He didn’t take rest even for a single day," Gani said, questioning, "Why is Mahmudur Rahman in jail in the free Bangladesh now?" 
He (Mahmudur Rahman) should be released immediately, Gani said, adding, "Otherwise, we will be bound to take to the streets again".

JPC President Poet Hasan Hafiz put emphasis on publishing a memorial book on Ruhul Amin Gazi to inform the next generation about him (Gazi) and uphold the history of uncompromising fighting leadership like him.

DUJ President Md Shahidul Islam said there is no leader equal to Gazi for waging movement for bread and butter of the journalists.
 He became a leader through his works, courage and dedication, he added. 

"He was our banyan tree in the movements and struggles. We don't know whether we could fulfill void that was caused at his death," Shahidul said.

Speaking on the occasion, Ruhul Amin Gazi's son Affan Abrar Amin expressed gratitude to all for arranging discussion to recall his father. 

Abrar said his father was very patriotic and always thought about the country's people. 

"My father told me at the last time of his life that he wanted to see a humane society and the state free from discrimination, extortion and corruption. I hope the journalist community will play an important role in this regard. Only then my father's soul will rest in peace," he added.