Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 30, 1959 Mymensingh District, East Pakistan, Pakistan (now Sherpur District, Bangladesh) |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 1987–present |
Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul (born 30 November 1959) is a Bangladeshi journalist [1] and former president of a faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists. [2] [3] [4] In recognition of his contributions to journalism, the Bangla Academy awarded him an honorary Bangla Academy Fellowship in 2020. [5] [6]
Bulbul is former chief executive officer and chief editor of Ekushey Television. [7] [8] Throughout his career, he has worked with several television channels, including ATN Bangla and Boishakhi TV. [9] He was the Editor-in-Chief of TV Today. [10] He is the former chairman of Association for Social Advancement. [11]
Bulbul was born on 30 November 1959, in Nalitabari, Sherpur District, then part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). [12] His father was Amzad Hossain Talukder, and his mother was Begum Rowshan Ara. [12]
Bulbul was the executive editor of the daily Sangbad in 2006. [13] He was the Chief of News of ATN Bangla in 2007. [14] He served in a committee to monitor the textbook distribution by National Curriculum and Textbook Board. [15]
Bulbul was the editor-in-chief of ATN News. He was a chief editor of Boishakhi Television. [16] In 2015, he said a culture of impunity was threatening the press in Bangladesh. [17] He received a death threat from Ansarullah Bangla Team, an Al Qaeda affiliate. [18] [19]
In 2016, following the death of then-president Altaf Mahmud, Bulbul was elected president of the pro-Awami League faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists through a by-election. [20] Prior to that, he had already served two consecutive terms as president. [20] He called for the 9th Wage Board to be implemented for journalists. [21] He served in the Bangladesh Press Council in 2015 and 2017. [22] [23]
Bulbul was a member of the jury board for the National Film Awards 2022. [24] He served as an election commissioner for the Economic Reporters' Forum election. [25] He was critical of the Digital Security Act, 2018 and called on the government to release everyone detained under the act. [26]
Bulbul worked as the CEO of Ekushey Television. [9] Bulbul was then appointed the editor-in-chief of ‘TV Today,’ a newly approved television channel. [27] He was awarded by the National Board of Revenue for being one of the highest tax-paying journalists in Bangladesh. [28] As chairman of the governing body of the Association for Social Advancement, he ordered the distribution of 550 billion BDT (4.5 billion USD) loans by the non-profit. [29] In 2023, he was appointed an independent director of the Chittagong Stock Exchange. [30]
Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government, Bulbul's press accreditation was revoked by the Muhammad Yunus led interim government along with 167 journalists. [31] [32] The Committee to Protect Journalists raised concerns for the revokations. [33] The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit ordered the freezing of his bank accounts along with 9 other senior journalists including the former President of the National Press Club. [34]