NEC elects Shafik Rehman President, Mahmudur Rahman Gen Secy

The National Editors Council (NEC), a newly formed organisation of newspaper editors, elected Jai Jai Din Editor Shafik Rehman as president and Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman as General Secretary on Monday.

The Editors Council also elected Daily Waadaa Editor Shafiqul Alam as its treasurer.
The committee was formed at the NEC’s first general meeting held at a hotel in the capital. Editors of 29 daily newspapers published from Dhaka and different other divisional cities attended the meeting.

The editors present the meeting also approved the constitution presented by the NEC, with some amendments.

At the meeting, chaired by Shafik Rehman, the editors shared their views on freedom of the press and improving professional standards.

Mahmudur Rahman told the meeting that, “We want to expand the National Editors Council. Communication among journalists needs to be increased.”

This initiative, he said, has been taken to enable editors to remain united in support of independent journalism. The organization commenced its operations democratically, in accordance with its constitution, at its very first meeting.

Mahmudur Rahman said, “Freedom of the press has been restored in the country through the sacrifices of hundreds of martyrs who fought against the fascist government over the past 17 years.

Now is the time for us to engage in self-criticism, reflecting on how a section of editors enabled the government to become fascist through sycophancy. “Those who played a role in establishing fascism were even hailed as beacons of journalism. Now, we must stand tall with our spines straight.”

Editors who took part in the meeting and shared their views included Naya Diganta Editor Salah Uddin Muhammad Babar, Pratidiner Bangladesh Editor Maruf Kamal Khan, The New Nation Editor Mokarram Hossain, Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Loton Ekram, Manabkantha Editor Shahidul Islam, Khabar Sangjog Editor Sheikh Nazrul Islam, Bangladesher Khabor Editor 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 Editor Sayem Faruqi, Bhorer Bangla Editor Sheikh Muhammad Arif, The Global Post Editor Dr Mahbubur Rahman, Nawroz Editor Shamsul Haque Durrani, Karnaphuli Editor (Chattogram) Afsar Uddin Chowdhury, Dainik Lokosamaj Editor (Jashore) Shantunu Islam, Natun Provat Editor (Rajshahi) Sohel Mahbub, Dainik Newtimes Editor (Mymensingh) Saiful Islam, Dainik Jalalabad Editor (Sylhet) Muktabis-un-Nur, Juger Chinta Editor (Narayanganj) Morsalin Babla, Dainik Probah Editor (Khulna) Md Ashraf, and Bangladesh Bani Editor (Barishal) Azad Alauddin.