Staff Correspondent :
The Biannual General Meeting 2025 of the Narayanganj Journalists’ Union was held in a festive atmosphere on Saturday, 27 December. The event was attended as the chief guest by Obaidur Rahman Shahin, President of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ). The meeting was presided over by Abu Saud Masud, President of the Narayanganj Journalists’ Union.
The program was conducted by journalist Billal Hossain Robin. The session began with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an by union member Monir Hossain. This was followed by a one-minute silence in memory of the martyrs of the Liberation War, those involved in the Movement of ’24, Sharif Usman Hadi (spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha), and all journalists who have lost their lives in independent Bangladesh. In his organizational report, General Secretary AKM Mahfuzur Rahman highlighted in detail the incidents of repression previously carried out against President Abu Saud Masud.
Treasurer Moshtaq Ahmed Shawon presented the financial report. Both the organizational and financial reports were unanimously approved through members’ support and a show of hands. Members of the executive committee, along with general members of the Narayanganj Journalists’ Union, were present at the meeting. Speaking as chief guest, Obaidur Rahman Shahin said: your president Abu Saud Masud has stated that if anyone raises a hand against journalists, that hand will be broken within 24 hours.
Adding to this, I want to say: if even one more case is filed against journalists, or even a single insulting word is uttered against them, we will firmly stand beside this registered Narayanganj Journalists’ Union. If necessary, we will closely watch how the SP and DC of the administration operate here. Speaking as special guest, Dhaka Union of Journalists Treasurer Khandaker Alamagir Hossain said that journalists from various districts across the country are now requesting to open branches there; however, such decisions are being taken very carefully after thorough
consideration.
Director of the Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce, Golam Sarwar Saeed, said that during the July movement even when the internet was shut down journalists played an important role in building a “new Bangladesh.” He urged journalists to remain vigilant so that this new
Bangladesh does not fall into the hands of a new authoritarianism. He elaborated on Rajuk’s planning system, institutionalized irregularities, criminalization within state mechanisms, accountability of the City Corporation, and the issue of business security. He informed the audience that in the past one and a half years, 142 incidents occurred in
Narayanganj that created obstacles for business operations, which he described as a serious threat to the economy. Other speakers included NUJ member Forrukh Khosru, Sonia Dewan Preeti, Abu Saud Tanvir, Nasir Uddin, Jahangir Alam Hanif, and several others.
