DHAKA, Jan 02, 2022 (BSS) - The first meeting of the newly formed 20th council of Bangladesh Press Council (BPC) was held at the BPC's meeting room with its Chairman Justice Md Nizamul Haque Nasim in the chair.

   Council members Md Shafiul Islam, MP, editor of the Daily Observer Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, former president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, editor of the daily Jugantar Saiful Alam, editor and publisher of the Daily Bhamik Barta Dewan Hanif Mahmud, executive committee member of BFUJ Dr Utpal Kumar Sarker and office secretary of BFUJ Sebika Rani, director general of Bangla Academy Muhammad Nurul Huda, and secretary (additional charge) of University Grants Commission (UGC) Dr Ferdous Zaman joined the meeting.

   BPC secretary (Additional secretary) Md Shah Alam presented the agenda of the meeting, said a press release.

   At the outset of the meeting, participants observed silence for one-minute in memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his martyred family members, four national leaders and the people embraced martyrdom in Liberation War and member of BPC's 20th council Reaz Uddin Ahmed and adopted a condolence motion.

   BPC Chairman Justice Md Nizamul Haque Nasim welcomed the members of the newly formed council with flowers while the members congratulated Justice Md Nizamul Haque Nasim on his appointment as BPC chairman.

   The council members said PBC as the guardian of newspapers and journalists will have to play more constructive role for development of the newspapers and news agencies in future.

   Later, several committees were constituted in the meeting.

   Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury was made member of Press Appellate Board.