Expressing concern over the continuous repression on journalists, they remarked that freedom of the press is yet to be established.

Manik Miah Research Academy organised the seminar titled 'Newspaper and Manik Miah in our War of Liberation', to observe the 37th death anniversary of Manik Miah.

In his welcome speech, Advisor to the Academy Mir Moshtak Ahmed Robi said that Manik Miah always struggled for a balanced and democratic society.

Terming Manik Miah as the 'renaissance person' in the history of newspaper, poet Al Mujahidi, literary editor of the Daily Ittefaq said, "He created the stream of consciousness in the trend of journalism," and that "Without his contribution the country could never think of independence".

Mujahidi criticised some newspapers for not having the right to have trade union, which was Manik's journalistic philosophy.

Presenting the keynote speech, Delwar Hasan, director of the academy said, the mass oriented role of the Daily Ittefaq became obvious during the movement in 1969.

"Manik Miah strived against 'establishment' for the independence of the East Bengal, democracy, and freedom of press," Delwar said.

Dr Sharif Uddin Ahmed, director of the Department of National Archives and Library, and Syed Tosharaf Ali, editor of the weekly Robbar also spoke on the occasion chaired by Obaed-ul-Haque, former editor of the Bangladesh Observer.