Zafar Sobhan

Last updated

Zafar Sobhan
Zafar Sobhan.jpg
Born (1970-05-19) 19 May 1970 (age 54)
Nationality Bangladeshi
Alma mater Pomona College
University of British Columbia
Pepperdine University
Occupation(s)Lawyer, teacher, editor, journalist, columnist
Parent(s) Rehman Sobhan (father)
Salma Sobhan (mother)

Zafar Sobhan is a prominent Bangladeshi public intellectual, lawyer, journalist, and political analyst. He is the Editor of the Dhaka Tribune , one of the major English language newspapers of Bangladesh. Sobhan became the first internationally syndicated columnist to emerge from the English-language Bangladeshi press. He is widely considered as a leading, liberal man of letters.

Contents

Early life and education

Sobhan was born in London on 19 May 1970 to Rehman Sobhan and Salma Sobhan. The Sobhan family is related to Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the last Prime Minister of Bengal and the 5th Prime Minister of Pakistan. Sobhan's father was a member of Bangladesh's first Planning Commission and later an Adviser to the Caretaker Government led by Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed in 1990-91. [1] [2] His mother was the first woman barrister of Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as a Research Fellow in the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs. His uncle Farooq Sobhan was the 17th Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh. His aunt is Princess Sarvath al-Hassan, a Jordanian royal and the wife of Prince Hassan bin Talal. Sobhan's education was mostly in the West. He moved to Bangladesh at the age of 10, learned Bengali, and attended the Bangladesh International Tutorial school, as well as boarding school in India. [3] After graduating from Pomona College, he spent a year in Bangladesh teaching English literature in Scholastica before moving to Pepperdine University to study law. He also attended the University of British Columbia before moving to New York City to work as a corporate lawyer. [4]

Career

Sobhan is one of the few Bangladeshi members of the New York State Bar. He was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton. [5] He also worked as a public school teacher in New York City. [6] [7] [8] In 2003, Sobhan moved to Dhaka to lead the opinions team at The Daily Star . He became the op-ed editor of the newspaper and revived the Forum magazine, which was in publication from 2004 to 2010. He also gained journalistic experience at The Independent , Dhaka Courier and Shokaler Khobor. [9] Sobhan became Bangladesh's first internationally syndicated columnist with articles published in many newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times , Economic and Political Weekly , The Guardian , Himal Southasian , Time , and Outlook among others. He was named by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. He also became a Yale World Fellow in 2009. [10] [11] [6] In 2013, Sobhan became the founding editor of the Dhaka Tribune .

Sobhan has represented a new generation of eloquent, liberal minded young leaders in Bangladesh. Under his leadership, the Dhaka Tribune became the fastest growing newspaper in Bangladesh's history. [12] While criticized for pushing pro-Awami League talking points, [13] the Tribune emerged as a significant interlocutor among civil society by holding seminars and interviews of key stakeholders in Bangladesh's politics. The Tribune's opinion columns have also attracted international columnists, including Nobel laureates and public intellectuals from around the world, as well as diplomats, politicians, and professionals from various fields. Sobhan has cultivated a niche readership for his newspaper among the diplomatic community, civil society, youth, and the political class.

Views

On 24 July 2024, Sobhan warned the Awami League and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that "the future is now" and that the League's hold on power was slipping away fast amid the 2024 Bangladeshi revolution. [14] A few days later, Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country on 5 August 2024. In an interview with Karan Thapar, Sobhan critiqued India's approach towards the situation in Bangladesh in light of strong Indian support for the ousted premier Sheikh Hasina. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Bangladesh</span> Politics in Bangladesh

Politics of Bangladesh takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is the head of government and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Constitution of Bangladesh was written in 1972 and has undergone seventeen amendments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awami League</span> Political party in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Awami League, simply known as Awami League, is one of the major political parties in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achieving the independence of Bangladesh. It is also one of the two most dominant parties in the country, along with its archrival Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheikh Hasina</span> Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh (1996–2001, 2009–2024)

Sheikh Hasina is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. She is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh. She served in the position of prime minister for over 20 years, making her the longest-serving prime minister in history of Bangladesh. Thus, she became the world's longest-serving female head of government. Her authoritarian regime ended in self-imposed exile following an uprising in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad</span> President of Bangladesh in 1975

Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was a Bangladeshi politician. He was the Minister of Commerce in the third Mujib Rahman ministry under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and assumed the presidency of Bangladesh after the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975. He praised the assassins as "sons of the sun" and put cabinet ministers loyal to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in jail. He was himself deposed by another coup, less than three months later on November 3, 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tajuddin Ahmad</span> 1st Prime Minister of Bangladesh (1971-1972)

Tajuddin Ahmad was a Bangladeshi politician. He led the Provisional Government of Bangladesh as its prime minister during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, and is regarded as one of the most instrumental figures in the birth of Bangladesh. He is known for his unwavering leadership and strategic acumen. He played a crucial role in organising the war efforts. His contributions continue to be celebrated in Bangladesh’s history and political

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamal Hossain</span> Bangladeshi politician and lawyer (born 1937)

Kamal Hossain, better known as Dr. Kamal, is a founding leader, lawyer and politician of Bangladesh. He is known as the "Father of the Bangladeshi Constitution" and regarded as an icon of secular democracy in the Indian subcontinent. Hossain currently heads his own law firm in Dhaka. He retired from political activities and from the post of president of Gano Forum in October 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rehman Sobhan</span> Bangladeshi politician

Rehman Sobhan is a Bangladeshi economist. Regarded as one of the country's top public thinkers, he is the founder of the Centre for Policy Dialogue. Sobhan is an icon of the Bangladeshi independence movement due to his role as a spokesman of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh in the United States during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was awarded the Independence Day Award, Bangladesh's highest civilian honour, in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scholastica (school)</span> School in Dhaka, Bangladesh mirpur

Scholastica is a private English medium school in Dhaka, Bangladesh, offering pre-school to A level courses. It was founded in 1977 by businesswoman and former advisor to the government, Yasmeen Murshed. The school follows the Cambridge International Curriculum set by the Cambridge Assessment International Education for Grade 9 to 12 and offers the GCE O Level, GCE AS Level and the GCE A Level qualifications. It is prominently recognised as one of the elite schools of Bangladesh, boasting a strong alumni network.

The Daily Star is a Bangladeshi English-language daily newspaper. It is by far the largest circulating English-language newspaper in the country. Founded by Syed Mohammed Ali on 14 January 1991, as Bangladesh transitioned and restored parliamentary democracy, the newspaper became popular for its outspoken coverage of politics, corruption, and foreign policy. It is considered a newspaper of record for Bangladesh. The newspaper has been described as having a "reputation for journalistic integrity and liberal and progressive views - a kind of Bangladeshi New York Times".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sajeeb Wazed</span> Bangladeshi politician and businessman

Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, also known as Sajeeb Wazed Joy, is a Bangladeshi businessman and politician. He is a member of the Bangladesh Awami League and served as an advisor to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on information and communication technology affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahfuz Anam</span> Bangladeshi journalist

Mahfuz Anam is a Bangladeshi journalist. He serves as editor and publisher of The Daily Star, one of Bangladesh's largest circulating English-language newspapers. After working in the United Nations for 14 years, Anam co-founded the newspaper with his mentor Syed Mohammad Ali in 1991 during Bangladesh's democratic transition. His criticism of the country's two largest political parties and the military has often resulted in him being sued; Anam dismisses the charges and the suits as attacks on press freedom. He was elected for a second term as chairman of the Asia News Network in 2022 and 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Bangladesh (1971–present)</span> Post-independence history of Bangladesh

The history of Bangladesh (1971–present) refers to the period after the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zunaid Ahmed Palak</span> Bangladeshi politician

Zunaid Ahmed Palak is a prominent member of Awami League and Sheikh Hasina's toppled regime currently in custody of Bangladesh Police for his alleged involvement in July massacre. He is a former Minister of State for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and served as a member of the Jatiya Sangsad, representing the constituency of Natore-3.

The Dhaka Tribune is a major Bangladeshi English-language daily newspaper based in Dhaka, the country's capital and largest city. It also operates an online portal known as the Bangla Tribune. The newspaper has a strong readership in Bangladeshi cities, particularly among the young generation, the diplomatic community, and expatriates; as well as a wide readership in South Asia and internationally. The newspaper is notable for its highly diverse op-ed content, with contributions from leading Bangladeshi, South Asian and international columnists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Bangladeshi general election</span>

General elections were held in Bangladesh on 30 December 2018 to elect 300 directly-elected members of the Jatiya Sangsad. The result was another landslide victory for the Awami League-led Grand Alliance led by Sheikh Hasina. The elections were marred by violence, and were widely considered by opposition politicians and the international community to be rigged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury</span> Bangladeshi Journalist

Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi journalist and editor of The Daily Observer. He served as the media and information affairs advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for almost 5 years.

Abdus Sobhan Golap is a politician and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Madaripur-3 constituency. He is the current Publicity and Publications Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League.

Freedom of the press in Bangladesh refers to the censorship and endorsement on public opinions, fundamental rights, freedom of expression, human rights, explicitly mass media such as the print, broadcast and online media as described or mentioned in the constitution of Bangladesh. The country's press is legally regulated by the certain amendments, while the sovereignty, national integrity and sentiments are generally protected by the law of Bangladesh to maintain a hybrid legal system for independent journalism and to protect fundamental rights of the citizens in accordance with secularism and media law. In Bangladesh, media bias and disinformation is restricted under the certain constitutional amendments as described by the country's post-independence constitution.

Sheikh Mohammad Wahid Uz Zaman is a retired secretary, principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and chairman of Janata Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umran Chowdhury</span> Bangladeshi lawyer and writer

Umran Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi lawyer, writer, surveyor, historian, and columnist. He has been a researcher at the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs and the School of Oriental and African Studies. He frequently writes for the Dhaka Tribune. Chowdhury has been widely considered as a public intellectual and man of letters.

References

  1. ↑ "Indo-Bangla economic relations".
  2. ↑ Sobhan, Rehman (11 November 2024). "Questions which need to be addressed in designing and implementing reforms". Prothomalo.
  3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220626232043/https://fromstonestocastles.pressbooks.com/chapter/zafar-sobhan/
  4. ↑ "Zafar Sobhan- Editor and Inspiration". macmillan.yale.edu.
  5. ↑ https://www.weforum.org/people/zafar-sobhan/
  6. 1 2 "Profile: Zafar Sobhan". worldfellows.yale.edu. Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program, Yale University. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "Zafar Sobhan". Pressbooks. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "Zafar Sobhan". The World Economic Forum.
  9. ↑ "Zafar Sobhan – IID". Iidbd.org. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  10. ↑ "Profile: Zafar Sobhan". Sunday Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "The Forum of Young Global Leaders". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "Zafar Sobhan – Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program".
  13. ↑ "How a media mogul bankrolled covert pro-Hasina campaign". Netra News — নেত্র নিউজ. 26 September 2024.
  14. ↑ "The future is now".
  15. ↑ "Bangladeshis Feel "Antipathy" for India & Hold It "Squarely Responsible" for Their Suffering". 30 August 2024 – via YouTube.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.