United News of Bangladesh

The Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (OCAB), a Dhaka-based platform of journalists representing international media, on Tuesday voiced concern over the barring of journalist Nazrul Islam from travelling to China at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday. Nazrul Islam represents the German news agency DPA and heads OCAB as incumbent President. OCAB unanimously condemned the development, saying that such a travel ban without showing any valid reason by the security and immigration officials is unwanted, unexpected and a clear violation of basic rights to travel, and an attempt to inject fear and confusion in the minds of the journalists, said a press release issued on Tuesday. This is also regrettable that the incident took place on the day of the World Press Freedom Day on Sunday when it was being observed in Bangladesh and beyond with a promise to uphold the spirit of press freedom. Just one day before marking the World Press Freedom Day, OCAB in a statement signed by its General Secretary Julhas Alam, urged the government and all political stakeholders to guarantee the physical safety of journalists and ensure swift accountability for attacks, to release all journalists detained arbitrarily and held without formal charge and to withdraw charges filed against hundreds of journalists that many international monitors have deemed disproportionate, to reform or repeal laws that restrict freedom of expression and independent journalism and to promote media literacy, support independent fact-checking initiatives, and strengthen security measures for media professionals against cyber threats. From Nazrul Islam’s personal social media account, it is known that OCAB President collected his boarding pass for a scheduled trip to China on May 3 when immigration police called him aside and questioned him about his profession and the role he played as the association’s President, it said. He was eventually told that he would not be allowed to travel to China because of no-clearance from “security agencies.” In a Facebook post, Nazrul Islam said that immigration officials did not show any valid reasons for preventing him from travelling. OCAB called on the government to immediately clarify the incident and stop such unlawful moves and other repressive acts that undermine the rights of journalists.

The Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (OCAB), a Dhaka-based platform of journalists representing international media, has expressed deep shock at the demise of veteran journalist and former its President Shamim Ahmad who died on Monday. “All members of OCAB expressed their condolences and shared grief with the family members of Shamim Ahmad, a former Chief of Correspondents of the United News of Bangladesh (UNB) and also a former President of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) and DCAB,” said a statement. DRU mourns death of journalist Shamim Ahmad In the statement, OCAB President Nazrul Islam said, “Shamim Ahmad was a very professional journalist and a lovely colleague throughout his professional journey. It’s a great loss to the country’s media sector.”  OCAB General Secretary Julhas Alam said, “Shamim Ahmad was a very kind hearted person, and he loved journalism and practised it upholding professional dignity and ethical standards.”  

Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, said on Monday that the country’s politics has become “so polarized and divisive” that major political parties fail to reach any understanding on common national issues like corona pandemic. “From our party we have tried to establish a workable co-existence with the BNP. But there has been no positive response from them,” Quader said during a meeting with members of the Overseas Correspondents Association (OCAB) at his Bangladesh Secretariat office. Also read:Quader warns tough action against errant party members He recalled how BNP leader Khaleda Zia rebuffed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s repeated gesture to have a dialogue with her in the past. Quader said 15th August, the day Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in 1975, is a very emotional issue not only for the Awami League, but for the entire nation. “But how can Khaleda Zia celebrate the 15th August as her birthday? You know she has already five birthdays. How is it possible?,” he wondered. Also read:Quader slams BNP for anti-people conspiracy He said it was BNP founder Ziaur Rahman who granted indemnity to the killers of Bangabandhu. So, it is crystal clear that he was involved with the assassination of the father of the nation. During the meeting the Awami League leader discussed state of country’s politics, government drive to procure Covid-19 vaccine, the Rohingya problem and the rapid progress in the implementation of some mega projects like Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu tunnel under Karnaphuli rfiver. He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed authorities to procure corona vaccine the soonest from all available sources. “We are trying to get vaccines from China, Russia and the United States,” he said adding the problem may be solved within a couple of months. On the status of stalled vaccine import from India, Quader said, “We see a ray of hope. But we can’t bank fully on India as we understand they are going through a crisis.” Also read: AL destroyed liberal democratic politics: BNP  On Rohingya issue he said the international community must do more than just “giving lip service to this problem.” “We are spending 700 million dollars a year to take care of 12 lakh refugees,” he said. Defending the decision to shift a part of the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char Quader said it was necessary to save the economy, environment, forestry and tourism in the region as well as for their better living.

A new convening committee of the Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (OCAB), a platform of Dhaka-based journalists working for foreign media outlets, was announced on Saturday (April 24, 2021). The nine-member committee, headed by BBC’s Correspondent Qadir Kallol, will be working to hold a new election within six months (minimum). Germany’s news agency DPA’s Nazrul Islam Mithu has been made Member Secretary of the committee said a press release. The convening committee will also conduct regular activities of the prestigious organisation before holding a new election. The committee was formed at a virtual meeting of OCAB presided over by senior member Farid Hossain. Read Rajshahi University journalists’ body gets new executive committee The other members of the newly formed committee are: Zahiduzzaman Faruque, Farid Hossain, Rafiqur Rahman, Bashudeb Dhar, Shafiqul Alam, Julhas Alam and Harunur Rashid. At the meeting, the OCAB members adopted a condolence motion on the deaths of some members of the organisation. They extended their sympathy to the families of Hassan Shahriar, Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Zahurul Haque, AZM Anas and others. Read Commerce minister asks journalists to bring up development challenges accurately The meeting also congratulated OCAB member Pavel Rahman on being awarded with Ekushey Padak this year. The meeting also provided membership to 11 Dhaka-based journalists working for foreign media. OCAB members Zahiduzzman Faruque, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Pavel Rahman, Amir Khasru, Nizamuddin Ahmed, Bashudeb Dhar, Waliur Rahman Miraj and Anisur Rahman, among others, attended the meeting. Read Efforts to be accelerated to support journalists: Planning Minister