Barishal Bureau

The Journalist Torture Prevention Committee, Barishal District Branch, has been formed to protect the interests of journalists.

At a general meeting held at a Chinese restaurant in the city on Thursday night, a 25-member executive committee was formed with Nikunja Bala Palash, the Barisal office chief of the Daily Amar Desh, as the president and Shaheen Hafiz, the Barisal office chief of Ittefaq, as the general secretary.

In a general meeting held under the chairmanship of Nikunja Bala Palash, Barisal office chief of Amar Desh newspaper, Md. Al Mamun, Barisal bureau chief of the daily Amadre Shom, was unanimously elected as vice-president, while Mortuza Jewel, Barisal bureau chief of Deepta Television, was elected as vice-president.

Tanmoy Topu, the Barisal bureau chief of Dainik Agamir Shomar, and SN Palash, a staff reporter at Dainik Jugantor's Barisal office, have been appointed joint editors.

Organizing Secretary Md. Mamun-or-Rashid (Dainik Bartam), Treasurer Md. Nasir Uddin (Jugantar), Office Secretary Ratul Ahmed (Ittefaq), Publicity Secretary Ripon Hawlader (Dakshiner Mukho), Literary Secretary Khandaker Rakib (Barisal Crime News), Sports Secretary Ahmed Bayezid (Agrajatra Pratidin) and Cultural Secretary Monika Chowdhury (Jugantar) have been elected.

In addition, the members of the committee's executive committee are M. Zahir (

Morning Time), Said Memon (Bangladesh Pratidin), M Mofazzel (BSS), Zia Uddin Babu (Ajaker Parihar), Sukhendu Edbar (Ekushey Television), Shahin Hasan (Nagorik Television), Khokon Ahmed Hira (Janakanth), Mushfiq Sourav (Bangla News), M Salauddin (GS TV), Shakil Mahmud (Desh TV), Masud Rana (New Nation), Arif Hossain (Bijoy TV).

Journalist leaders said that there are several organizations of journalists in Barishal city. But most of the organizations are failing to play an effective role in protecting the interests of journalists or in their difficult times.