-Md. Kamal Uddin: Some people think that calling me “Bakery Kamal” may belittle me, or make fun of me, or reduce my reputation. I do not hold any grudge against them. Rather, I thank them. Because they unknowingly celebrate a glorious chapter in my life. I came into journalism in 1988 and by writing in monthly magazines day after day – I got involved in the bakery owner or bakery industry movement from 2005 to 2010. Before that, I have a history of many other movements and struggles, during my journalism, I became known as the father of the bakery industry through the bakery movement. Yes, I want to say it with pride – I am an organizer of the Chittagong Development Movement and I am a journalist, a writer, a television presenter. But at the same time, I am an organizer, an activist and a pioneer in the movement to achieve the rights of the bakery industry. If someone calls me "Bakery Kamal" because of this identity, then I am not insulted, I feel honored. No person in life is established in a day. Behind every identity is sacrifice, struggle, sweat, tears and countless sleepless nights. My life is no exception. Long before I was introduced to the world of journalism, I was involved in the bakery industry. As an entrepreneur, I have seen numerous problems, deprivations and crises in this industry. I have seen how hundreds of small and medium entrepreneurs are victims of neglect and discrimination. I have seen the suffering of workers, the helplessness of owners and the struggle to survive in the dust of a promising industry. The thought of the movement was born from that reality. Going beyond personal interests, I believed that if we do not organize, this industry will one day be destroyed. From that belief, the establishment of the Chittagong Bakery Owners Association and the beginning of the movement. I was given the responsibility of the founding general secretary, but it was not a position—it was a responsibility, a commitment, an oath of struggle. Many people see today's modern bakery industry, but do not know the history behind it. They don't know how many meetings, how many movements, how many demands, how many door-knockings and how many sacrifices this industry has reached its current position. They don't know that at that time I worked for the greater good without thinking about the profit and loss of my own business. As an owner, I faced financial losses of crores of taka, but I never backed down from the path of movement. I believed that the collective success of society is much greater than the individual success of a person. I have suffered losses, but if thousands of people benefit, if an industry survives, if future generations get a well-organized industry - then that sacrifice is not in vain. Today, when someone tries to ridicule me by calling me "Bekari Kamal", I laugh to myself. Because they may not know that most of those who have brought change in the history of the world have had to endure satire at some point or another. Satire can never write history; history is written by struggle, sacrifice and courage.
I have written against injustice with my pen. I have written against corruption. I have written against the abuse of power. I have written about human rights. But even before that, I stood on the streets and fought for the rights of an industry. That fight was for the livelihood of people, for the families of workers, for the survival of entrepreneurs. Many people know journalist Kamal today. But they may not know that inside this journalist Kamal lives another struggling person, who has never learned to bow down to injustice. Who believes that standing by the people is the greatest identity in life.
For me, bakery is not the name of a business. It is the name of a struggle. It is the name of a dream of thousands of people. It is the name of an industry with which the livelihood of countless families is linked. And if the word “bakery” is added before or after my name for that industry, then it is not an insult for me, but rather an ornament of pride. Today, to those who call me “bakery Kamal”, I will say – thank you. Because you remind me of my past. You remind me of those days when I fought to save an industry by sacrificing my personal interests. You unknowingly brought a glorious chapter of my life to the fore. Until the last day of my life, I will proudly say—I am a journalist, I am a writer, I am a socially conscious person. And at the same time, I am the person who led the movement to achieve the rights of the bakery industry. Who fought to save an industry without thinking about his own losses. Therefore, “Bakery Kamal” is not a mockery to me; it is an honor. It is not a mockery; it is a recognition of the struggle. It is not a triviality; it is a testimony of history. Time will judge everything one day. People will forget many names, many positions, many powers. But a person who rises above his own interests and works for the people, fights for the society, and sacrifices everything to save an industry—history does not forget him. And with that belief, I can still say with my head held high—yes, I am Md. Kamal Uddin. If someone calls me "Bakery Kamal" lovingly or sarcastically, I accept that name with a smile. Because behind this name lies my labor, my sacrifice, my struggle and a glorious history of my life. Author: Journalist, researcher, television presenter and former founder general secretary, Chittagong Bakery Owners Association.