Dhaka, June 1 -- Tofazzal Hossain, popularly known as Manik Miah (1911 - 1 June 1969), was a prominent Pakistani Bengali journalist, political activist, and a leading voice for democracy and autonomy in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

Born in Bhandaria, Pirojpur, he pursued his education at Pirojpur High School and later completed his B.A. from Brojomohun College, Barisal.

He began his career in government service but soon left it to pursue journalism on the advice of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. Moving to Kolkata in 1943, he became involved with the Bengal Muslim League and the Daily Ittehad. In 1948, he relocated to Dhaka and joined the Ittefaq weekly.

By 1951, he had become its editor, later transforming it into a daily newspaper in 1...