Nurul Kabir

Nurul Kabir
নূরুল কবির
Kabir in 2020
Born (1960-11-04) 4 November 1960
Munshiganj
OccupationsWriter, editor
Known forJournalism, activism, and writing
Notable workNairbachanik Swairatantra O Ganatantrer Sangram, The Red Moulana

Nurul Kabir (born 4 November 1960[1]) is a Bangladeshi journalist, writer, columnist, editor, and activist.[2][3][4][5] He is the editor of the outspoken Bangladeshi newspaper, New Age and the editor of the Bengali weekly Budhbar. Nairbachanik Swairatantra O Ganatantrer Sangram and The Red Moulana are two of his most well-known books.[6] On November 13, 2025, he was elected as the President of Editors' Council. He was elected for a two-year term.[7][8]

Education

Kabir was born in the Munshiganj District of Bangladesh. He received a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Dhaka in 1983, and a Master of Arts degree in English from the same university in 1984.[6] Also, Nurul Kabir studied advanced journalism at the Thompson Foundation in the UK in 1988, and was awarded the Jefferson fellowship for studying journalism at the East-West Center, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii, the US, in 2004.[6]

Activism

During his student life at Dhaka University, Nurul Kabir was a left-wing student leader and activist, who played an active role in forming the Students Committee of Action for Democracy in 1983; the Committee played a decisive role in fighting against the martial law regime during the eighties.[6]

Journalism

Nurul Kabir is the editor of the New Age, the most outspoken newspaper in Bangladesh, highly regarded for its anti-establishment editorial policy. He was also the editor of the Bengali weekly Budhbar. Known for his upright journalism and bold political views, Nurul Kabir wrote many books, published numerous essays at both home and abroad, and presented many papers at regional, national, and international conferences.[6]

Because of his opposition to the military regime of Bangladesh and his defence of media freedom, Nurul Kabir has been attacked on several occasions. In 2007/8 he had both his legs broken and was chased by gunmen on motorbikes.[9]

On 18 December 2025, following the death of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Osman Hadi, an attack was carried out by violent mobs at the office of The Daily Star, located in the Karwan Bazar area of Dhaka.[10] Nurul Kabir went to the front of The Daily Star building to protest the attack, but he was physically assaulted and branded an "Indian agent" by the mob when he attempted to intervene during the incident.[11][12]

Selected publications

  • The Red Moulana (2012)
  • Nairbachanik Swairatantra O Ganatantrer Sangram (2012)
  • Kathokota (a collection of interviews) (2014)
  • Disposing of a Dictator: Revisiting a Magnificent Mass Uprising after 50 Years (2020)
  • Birth of Bangladesh : The Politics of History and the History of Politics (2022)

References

  1. ^ "Profile - Nurul Kabir". tritiyomatra.com. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  2. ^ "Editors worried at threats to Nurul Kabir". The Daily Star. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  3. ^ "Bangladesh government 'incapable of tolerating dissident views'". Deutsche Welle. 2015-12-18. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  4. ^ "Nurul Kabir to continue his defence on Dec 20". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  5. ^ "First AMF award to Lasantha". www.thesundayleader.lk. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Nurul Kabir: an Introduction". Porua. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  7. ^ "New Age Editor Nurul Kabir elected new president of Editors' Council, Bonik Barta Editor Hanif general secretary". The Business Standard. 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  8. ^ "Nurul Kabir, Dewan Hanif Mahmud made president, GS of Editor's Council | Others". BSS. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  9. ^ Dilrukshi Handunnetti (29 March 2009). "First AMF award to Lasantha". The Sunday Leader. Sri Lanka. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  10. ^ "ডেইলি স্টার, প্রথম আলো কার্যালয়ে নজিরবিহীন হামলা ভাঙচুর আগুন". Danik Kalbela. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  11. ^ "New Age Editor Nurul Kabir harassed by protesters near Daily Star office". The Business Standard. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  12. ^ Singh, Namita (19 December 2025). "Angry mob sets fire to offices of leading newspapers after activist shot dead in Bangladesh". The Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  • Media related to Nurul Kabir at Wikimedia Commons
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