A voice radio and TV will not forget

Few can forget the well-known voice of Serajul Majid Mamoon, an engineer by profession, and a celebrated newscaster and television anchor, whose first death anniversary was on May 2 this year. He had anchored many significant national events telecast live on Bangladesh Television (BTV) for over 35 years since our liberation. A successful engineer as well as television personality, his style of anchoring national events, including the national elections, made him a household name. 

His induction in the world of art and culture began as a debater. He became the debating champion of Notre Dame College in 1959, representing his college at the East Pakistan Education Week in 1960 where he was adjudged the best debater. He was also very passionate about drama and directing plays, becoming the first to stage a Bengali play at Notre Dame College.

He started as a Bengali newsreader from the Dhaka station of Radio Pakistan in 1958 while waiting for the results of his matriculation examination. At that time, there was only one local news show aired in Bangla language for five minutes from the Dhaka station. Including translating from English, a five-minute news reading in Bengali required investing up to two hours every day. Young Mamoon was not prepared for that, and he gave up after completing his first contract for fifteen days. He returned as a radio announcer in 1960 and very soon drew attention for his iconic voice. As a student of Ahsanullah Engineering College (now BUET), his cultural activities blossomed further. He switched to drama and acted in many radio plays - in both Bengali and English - and directed a few plays as a guest director until 1980. His second stint as a radio newsreader began in 1972 after the independence of Bangladesh. As a radio newsreader, he would announce his name as Mamoon Serajul Majid.

Dhaka Television began its journey in 1964. Mamoon passed the audition as a drama artist in early 1965, and acted in a drama called Mistry. During the Indo-Pak war of 1965, the frequency of Bangla-language news aired went up, and Mamoon was asked by the then Project Director of Dhaka Television, Kalim Sharafi, to help by participating as a newsreader. In those few months, he became a familiar face and began to enjoy the recognition, which motivated him to change his mind and stick to reading news in Bengali.  

One aspect of Mamoon's student life less known to the public is that he was elected twice to the Engineering University Central Students' Union, first as the organising secretary and then as the General Secretary. The period overlapped with the historic student movements of the early 60s, when he had the opportunity to work with the student leaders of Dhaka University, many of whom later became known in our national politics. He was a natural leader and an ardent organiser. As a student leader, he is remembered by the professors of his time for his 'unparallel courtesy and gentleness'.

Immediately after graduating from the Chemical Engineering Department of EPUET (as BUET was known before independence) in 1966, Serajul Majid Mamoon worked at Dhaka Polytechnic Institute as a lecturer in Chemical Engineering and worked at the East Pakistan Small Industries Corporation (EPSIC) before joining Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) in Chittagong. At ERL, he was one of the eight engineers who witnessed process commissioning and took over the operation from the French contractors. After ERL, he worked at Titas Gas and Petro Bangla, where he was in charge of the gas department, looking after the production and marketing of gas as well as expansion planning of the gas network. He was a leading energy expert in the government sector until he moved to the private sector in 1978 to start an energy consultation company, BRUTEC (Bangladesh Resources Utilisation and Engineering Company). His first project was a study on gas pricing in Bangladesh. Later, he also excelled in the management of very large construction projects. Notable landmark projects completed under his care are Jatiya Smriti Soudho, Jiban Bima Bhaban, Shikha Onirban and Singtel building situated in Somerset Road, Singapore.

Serajul Majid Mamoon was a leading figure and dedicated organiser in the fraternity of engineers. He was actively involved with the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), for the last 50 years where he held key executive positions. He represented IEB in the Prokrichi movement in the late 70s. He was the Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Professional Engineers Registration Board and Vice-President of the BUET Alumni Association. 

This well-known newscaster made the best use of his talents, opportunities and resources to serve his family, friends, profession and the society at large with compassion, utmost dedication and honesty. In this world, he was rewarded with dignity and honour, and, most importantly, a fulfilling happy family. 

The writer is professor, National University of Singapore.