Jump to content

A. S. Mahmud

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abu Sayeed Mahmud
Born(1933-07-10)10 July 1933
Died22 January 2004(2004-01-22) (aged 70)
London, England, United Kingdom
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka
OccupationBusinessman
Known forFounding Ekushey Television

A. S. Mahmud, born Abu Sayeed Mahmud,[1] was a Bangladeshi businessman and founder of Ekushey Television who was forced to leave Bangladesh after the closure of his channel by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Early life

[edit]

Mahmud was born on 10 July 1933 in Sylhet, Assam, British India.[2] He completed his bachelors in economics at the University of Dhaka in 1954.[2]

Career

[edit]

Mahmud joined Burmah Oil as an executive.[2] In 1971, he was an executive director of Pakistan State Oil.[2] After the Independence of Bangladesh, Pakistan National Oils was nationalized and renamed Jamuna Oil Company.[2] He moved to London during the Bangladesh Liberation War.[2]

Mahmud left Jamuna Oil Company in 1977 and joined Transcom Group.[3] In 1991, he was appointed a director of Mediaworld Limited and publisher of The Daily Star after the death of S. M. Ali in 1993.[3] He was the Managing Editor of Mediaworld.[4]

Mahmud founded Reliance Insurance Company Limited. He was a director of Infrastructure Development Company.[2] He was the president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry.[2] He was a member of the National Pay Commission of Bangladesh and Industrial Development Council of the World Bank.[2]

Mahmud founded Ekushey Television was launched on 14 April 2000[5] as a privately owned nationwide terrestrial television network, the first of its kind in Bangladesh and the region of South Asia.[6][1] Shortly after the BNP took office, on 29 August 2002, Ekushey Television was coerced into ceasing operations after being accused of obtaining its license illegally and being biased towards the party.[7][8] Mahmud subsequently left Bangladesh for England with his family.[1]

Death

[edit]

Mahmud died on 22 January 2004 in London, United Kingdom.[1][3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Dring, Simon (2014-01-22). "A.S. Mahmud: A man of vision remembered". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Chowdhury, Reza (22 January 2007). "Dreams never die". The Daily Star. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "AS Mahmud passes away". The Daily Star. 24 January 2004. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  4. ^ Khasru, Syed Munir (2011-01-22). "A S Mahmud: A tribute". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  5. ^ ২২ বছরে একুশে টেলিভিশন. Samakal (in Bengali). 14 April 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  6. ^ Chowdhury, Afsan (1999). "Move over BTV". Himal Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Bangladesh TV faces possible closure". BBC News. 27 March 2002. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Private Bangladesh TV goes off air". BBC News. 29 August 2002. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.