Staff Correspondent

Khulna, August 1: The Bangladesh Journalist Protect Committee (BJPC), with funding from the European Union and support from Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and Article 19, organized a general meeting and distributed safety equipment to journalists from the Khulna Division.

The day-long programme was held on Saturday, August 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Aranya Eco Garden in Khulna. More than 200 permanent members of the organization from across the Khulna Division attended the event. On the occasion, safety equipment, including bulletproof vests, safety helmets, and earmuffs, was distributed to 60 selected journalists. Journalists from all ten districts of the Khulna Division, as well as participants from Pabna, Gaibandha, and several other districts of the country, took part in the programme.

The meeting was chaired by Kaushik De, President of the Bangladesh Journalist Protect Committee and Correspondent of Kaler Kantho, and moderated by Anisur Rahman Kabir, General Secretary of the organization and Khulna Divisional Chief of Global Television.

Among those who addressed the gathering were Mostafa Sarwar, President of the Khulna Press Club; Md. Tarikul Islam, General Secretary of the Khulna Press Club; Mizanur Rahman Milton, General Secretary of the Khulna Newspaper Council and Editor of Daily Khulna Anchal; Abu Hena Mostafa Zaman, Khulna Divisional Chief of Maasranga Television; Md. Hedayet Hossain Molla, Khulna Correspondent of Dhaka Tribune; the Khulna Bureau Chief of Himalaya; Md. Robiul Islam Monju, Executive Editor of Ushar Alo; and Abul Hossain, Executive Member of CMKS.

The speakers emphasized that such initiatives are timely and essential to ensuring a safe working environment for journalists. They expressed their gratitude to the European Union, Free Press Unlimited, and Article 19 for their continued support and expressed hope that similar initiatives would continue in the future to strengthen journalists' safety and professional capacity.

The speakers also noted that the Bangladesh Journalist Protect Committee had previously distributed laptops to 20 women journalists as part of its efforts to support media professionals.

The general meeting was attended by Sheikh Abu Sayeed Shunu, President of the BJPC Bagerhat District Committee and District Correspondent of Daily Manabzamin; Sohel Rana Babu, General Secretary and Bagerhat Correspondent of Global Television; Md. Yunus Ali, President of the BJPC Magura District Committee and District Correspondent of Star News; Md. Ali Ashraf, General Secretary; Mahbubul Haque Polen, President of the BJPC Meherpur District Committee and District Correspondent of Bangladesh Pratidin; Rashed Khan, General Secretary, along with leaders and permanent members from different districts of the Khulna Division.

Journalists and BJPC leaders from Bagerhat, Magura, Meherpur, Narail, Mongla, Jashore, Jhenaidah, and several other districts also attended the event.

NGS/MMH