বাংলা 
English 
Waliul Bari Chowdhury, the pioneer of modern journalism
Journalist Alhaj Waliul Bari Chowdhury was the editor of 'Swadhin Bangla', the first newspaper published from a liberated zone during Bangladesh's Liberation War, and the publisher and editor of the weekly 'Ispat' published from the greater Kushtia region and of the pre-independence weekly 'Mashal'.
Under the editorship of Waliul Bari Chowdhury, on 15 April 1971 the first fortnightly of the Liberation War period, named 'Swadhin Bangla', was brought out from Ranaghat in Nadia district. Before that, around 1964, he was the publisher and editor of another newspaper, the weekly 'Mashal'. After independence he was the publisher of the fortnightly review 'Samiksha'; apart from 'Ispat', these closed down in 1975 along with all the newspapers of the country. However, at that time the monthly 'Ispat' continued, which was the only newspaper within Khulna division. On 17 November 1975 the 'Ispat' began to appear weekly instead of monthly, and it still continues. Alongside journalism, he is involved with various social and cultural organisations.
There are those who are in journalism hereditarily. It is thanks to this newspaper that many took their first steps in journalism. It is through this newspaper that many talented journalists have emerged at various times, contributing much talent to the national electronic and print media. And that newspaper is one of the oldest published from Kushtia; its name is the weekly 'Ispat'. Its editor is a pen-soldier of Bangladesh's independence movement, Alhaj Waliul Bari Chowdhury. He is known as a veteran and fearless journalist of Kushtia. This newspaper has been making a special contribution in the arenas of industry, literature and culture. It is still published regularly.
In 1964, through the publication of the weekly 'Mashal', he created a new light in the newspaper world of Kushtia and presented Kushtia in a new form.
Waliul Bari Chowdhury, the pioneer of modern journalism, has carried the newspapers and periodicals of Kushtia to a different height within Bangladesh and across the Bengal beyond the border. He is known to the people of all classes of Kushtia as a beloved person.
