| Type: | Daily newspaper |
| Format: | Broadsheet |
| Owners: | Ittefaq Group of Publications Ltd. |
| Publisher: | Tareen Hossain |
| Editor: | Tasmima Hossain |
| Language: | Bengali |
| Political: | Secular/Liberal |
| Headquarters: | 40, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka 1215; Kazlarper Demra, Dhaka 1232 |
The Daily Ittefaq (Bengali: দৈনিক ইত্তেফাক, translit. Doinik Ittephak) is a Bengali-language daily newspaper. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest newspaper, and one of the most circulated newspapers in Bangladesh. The newspaper format is broadsheet and it is printed by Ittefaq Group of Publications Limited.
Ittefaq was initially published weekly. It became a daily on 24 December 1953, under the editorship of Tofazzal Hossain.[1]
During the time of United Pakistan, it publicized the negligence and colonial mindset of Pakistani leaders to East Pakistan. As a result, the government acted against its editors and journalists. Hossain's post editorial column 'Rajnaitik Mancha' (political platform) became popular in East Pakistan. During the Bengali language movement era, The Daily Ittefaq played a vital role. Ittefaq had a significant role in the 1954 general elections, and it contributed to the victory of the United Front. From Ayub Khan to Yahya Khan, Ittefaq always strongly opposed all military rule of Pakistan.
The Ittefaq supported the six point movement of Awami League during the mid-1960s and helped publish its ideas. Ittefaq quickly emerged as the voice of East Pakistani citizens. President Ayub Khan censored its publication from June 17 to July 11, 1966, and then again from July 17, 1966, to February 9, 1969. Tofazzal Hossain was imprisoned several times.[2]
Hossain died on June 1, 1969; the newspaper was subsequently managed by his two sons, Mainul Hosein and Anwar Hossain Manju.
The Ittefaq office was burnt down and completely demolished on March 25, 1971, by the Pakistan Army as part of Operation Searchlight. It was all in ruins and there was not a sign of life there.[3] The newspaper received Taka 100,000 (equivalent to £8,300 in 1971)[4] as compensation from the Pakistan government. This enabled Barrister Mainul Hosein to resume publishing, under the watchful eye of the authorities, on May 21, 1971, from the Daily Pakistan Press. For the remainder of the Bangladesh Liberation War the paper was a mouthpiece for Yahya and Tikka Khan, and severely criticised the freedom fighters.[5]
After the newspaper The Daily Sangram called Serajuddin Hossain (also transliterated Seraj Uddin Hossain), executive editor of The Daily Ittefaq, the editor was abducted December 10, 1971, and never found. During Bangladesh's war crimes trials in 2012, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, a Jamaat-e-Islami party member, was charged with Hossain's murder.[6]
Ownership was returned to Manik Mia's sons after nationalization on August 24, 1975. Tasmima Hossain is the editor. The Daily Ittefaq features all the standard sections of a modern daily newspaper like political news, economic, sports, education, entertainment, and general and local news.
This newspaper offers a daily Bengali electronic edition on its website and an English edition aimed at a younger audience.
This news portal has also E-paper.[7]