DHAKA, Feb 22, 2022 (BSS) - The government has reappointed renowned 
journalist Abul Kalam Azad as the Managing Director and Chief Editor of the 
state-run national news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) for two more 
years with the status of a secretary to the government. 

   Public Administration Ministry today issued a gazette notification in this 
regard, stating that it will be effective from February 4, 2022. 

   A career journalist, Azad has been serving as the national news agency 
chief since 2014 with the same status while previously he was entrusted with 
the position of Prime Minister's Press Secretary from 2009 to 2014. 

  Earlier, he served as the Press Minister at the Bangladesh Embassy in the 
United States and upon returning from Washington D.C. in 2002, he was made 
the Press Secretary to Awami League President and the then Leader of the 
Opposition Sheikh Hasina. 

   Azad made his debut as a journalist in the Dainik Ittefaq in 1973 and 
subsequently emerged as a professional leader by virtue of his quality as a 
trade unionist.

   He was elected as the general secretary and subsequently, president of 
Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and later became the secretary general and 
president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), the apex body of 
the country's journalist community.

  Alongside his career as a journalist and union leader, Azad served as a 
member of Dhaka University Senate, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical 
University (BSMMU) syndicate, Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Board of 
Directors, Bangladesh Press Council and Bangladesh Film Censor Board.