Staff Correspondent 

The inauguration ceremony of Mirzaganj Journalists Forum, Dhaka,  an organization of professional journalists from Mirzaganj Upazila of Patuakhali district  working  in various media outlets in Dhaka was  held in a colourful  arrangement at a  Chinese restaurant in the city on Friday. 

The program began under the chairmanship of the organization’s president, Md. Aminul Islam, and it  was conducted by General Secretary, Md. Asadusjaman Shajib, with recitation from the Holy Quran and prayers for the forgiveness of the journalists injured and killed during the July Mass Uprising.

The chief guest at the event was former Home and Commerce Minister, BNP central executive committee vice chairman, and retired Air Vice Marshal Alhaj Altaf Hossain Chowdhury. At this time, the organization’s General Secretary, Md. Asadusjaman Shajib, presented him with an honorary crest on behalf of the organization.

In his speech, the chief guest said, "I am very delighted and happy that the journalists from Mirzaganj are united under the same banner and have organized such a beautiful event. I thank all members of the organization as well as the organizing committee. I also thank everyone present today. Highlighting the role of journalists during the July mass uprising, he described journalists as the mirror of society. Expressing regret, he added, "Journalists are not valued as they should be, yet when the police refuse to take a case, we turn to journalists for press conferences. Therefore, I urge the state and everyone to give journalists their due recognition.

Special guests at the event included Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator and Dhaka WASA Managing Director, Additional Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh Md. Shahjahan Mia, Director of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Imam Zafar Shikdar, Bangladesh Police DIG Ruhul Amin Shipar, Assistant Attorney General Adv Arifur Rahman Arif, Executive President of Dhaka-based Mirzaganj Upazila Welfare Association Shahabuddin Khan, President of Mirzaganj Upazila Development Council Dr. Alamgir Hossain, Adv  Abdus Salam Khan, Associate Professor of Bangladesh Medical University Dr. Nazrul Islam Akash, General Secretary of Patuakhali District Association Dr. Saiful Azam Ronju, President of Madhabkhali Union BNP Shaheen Chowdhury Pasha, President of Mirzaganj Upazila Social Welfare Association Nasir Uddin, Senior Vice President of Mirzaganj Upazila BNP Mostafizur Rahman, and Executive Editor of Aporadh Bichitra magazine Alamgir Hossain along with senior government and private officials, businessmen, politicians, and leaders of various organizations from Dhaka-based Mirzaganj community.

In their speeches, the special guests thanked the leaders and members of the Dhaka-based Mirzaganj Journalists Forum for organizing such a wonderful event. They also called on everyone, including MJF, to come forward for the development of Mirzaganj.

In his concluding remarks, President Md. Aminul Islam thanked all the distinguished guests for attending.

General Secretary Md. Asadusjaman Shajib expressed gratitude to the executive committee and all members of the organization for their full cooperation. He also pledged that the Dhaka-based Mirzaganj Journalists Forum (MJF) would stand beside the people of Mirzaganj in addressing its problems and exploring its potentials.

In addition, on behalf of the organization, its General Secretary, Md. Asadusjaman Sajib, presented an honorary crest to the chief guest. The organization’s published magazine “Payarar Dak” was unveiled by the chief guest and special guests.

At the end of the ceremony, all guests joined a dinner, and special gift items were distributed among all members of the organization.