The National Editors Council (NEC) held its first general meeting Monday at a hotel in the capital. Editors of 29 daily newspapers published from Dhaka and other parts of the country attended the meeting. Jaijaidin editor Shafik Rehman was elected interim president, and Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman was elected general secretary. Wada editor Shafiqul Alam was elected treasurer. The editors present approved the National Editors Council’s proposed charter, with some amendments.
At the general meeting, chaired by Shafik Rehman, editors offered their views on press freedom and raising professional standards. Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman said: “We want to expand the National Editors Council further. Communication among journalists should increase. This initiative has been taken so editors can stand united for independent journalism. The organization has begun its journey democratically, following its charter, from its very first meeting.”
Mahmudur Rahman said: “Over the past 17 years, press freedom has returned to the country through the sacrifice of hundreds of martyrs who fought against a fascist government. Now is the time for self-criticism — how a section of editors helped the government become fascist through sycophancy. Those who played a role in establishing fascism were made into beacons of journalism once again. We now have to straighten our spines and stand up.”
Jugantor editor Abdul Hai Shikder said: “What happened in the media in the name of journalism over the past 17 years was beneath contempt. The press had rotted and decayed. We now have to try to emerge from that. Instead of ‘no questions, only praise,’ we now genuinely have to ask questions.” He said: “The pioneer of people-oriented journalism in this subcontinent was our national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam. Through Dhumketu, he was the first to declare independence. Nazrul Islam was a successful editor.” He called on the Editors Council to award a Kazi Nazrul Islam medal for contributions to journalism. The meeting later adopted that proposal. The Editors Council decided to award a Nazrul medal for journalism every year.
Peoples View editor Osman Gani Mansur said: “What happened in the name of journalism over the past 17 years remains a disgraceful chapter. Journalism was turned into partisan politics. It was corrupted through various forms of favor and temptation. The NEC must work to help us emerge from this state.”
Wada editor Shafiqul Alam said: “In post-uprising Bangladesh, a platform like this for editors was essential. The NEC must work to become the voice of the whole of Bangladesh. Through this, freedom of the press and of expression can be secured.”
In his remarks as president, Shafik Rehman said: “Journalists have an important role in the country’s peace and stability. To move the country forward democratically, journalists must stand united and work together.” He sought everyone’s cooperation in bringing editors from across the country onto one platform.
Also offering views at the general meeting were Naya Diganta editor Salah Uddin Mohammad Babor, Protidiner Bangladesh editor Maruf Kamal Khan, New Nation editor Mokarram Hossain, Bangladesh Protidin editor Lotan Ekram, Manobkantha editor Shahidul Islam, Khabar Sangjog editor Sheikh Nazrul Islam, Bangladesher Khabor’s Syed Mezbah Uddin, Bhorer Dak editor K M Belayet Hossain, Janata editor Obaidur Rahman Shaheen, The Bangladesh Post editor Sadrul Hasan, Banijjo Protidin editor Gias Uddin, Khola Kagoj editor Monir Hossain, Rupali Bangladesh’s Sayem Faruki, Bhorer Bangla editor Sheikh Mohammad Arif, The Global Post’s Dr Mahbubur Rahman, Nawroz editor Shamsul Haque Durrani, Karnaphuli editor (Chattogram) Afsar Uddin Chowdhury, Dainik Lokosamaj (Jashore) editor Shantunu Islam, Notun Provat (Rajshahi) editor Sohel Mahbub, Dainik New Times editor (Mymensingh) Saiful Islam, Dainik Jalalabad editor (Sylhet) Muktabis Un Nur, Jhuger Chinta (Narayanganj) editor Morsalin Babla, Dainik Prabaha (Khulna) editor Md Ashraf, and Bangladesh Bani (Barishal) editor Azad Alauddin.