Chattogram City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain- File Photo

CHATTOGRAM, January 13, 2026 (BSS) - City Mayor Dr. Shahdat Hossain said that within the political history of Bangladesh, journalism extends beyond mere news reporting.

"The mass media also significantly contributes to the formation of leadership, the construction of political images, and the direction of mass movements. The media was a crucial element in the evolution of student politics and national politics, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s," he rsaid.

Dr. Shahdat Hossain made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the 'Election Journalism Training' workshop held at July Biplab Smriti Hall of the Chattogram Press Club.

The Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) organized this two-day training workshop for journalists from the Chattogram district in partnership with the Chattogram Press Club and the Chattogram Metropolitan Union of Journalists (CMUJ).

More than 100 journalists from various media outlets participated in the event. 

Shahadat Hossain asserted that there are no doubts regarding the elections of 1991 and 1996, as those elections were both transparent and widely accepted.

"In a similar manner, there is little contention regarding the 2001 election in which the four-party coalition led by BNP assumed power. During that period, all political parties closely monitored the electoral process and operated with transparency," the Mayor remarked.

 He noted that ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury was elected in Chattogram while BNP was in power in 1994, and there were no doubts surrounding that election either. Even during the coalition government, he was re-elected as mayor; at that time, the election faced no disputes. To clarify this point, he stated that BNP has never "barely interfered" in elections.
 
He also mentioned that over the past 16 years of the Awami League administration, AJM Nashir Uddin and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury were elected as mayors, whereas Mohiuddin Chowdhury did not experience a similar circumstance. This has prompted inquiries regarding the impartiality and acceptability of the electoral system, he added. 
 
The function was presided over by Zahidul Karim Kochi, the President of the Chattogram Press Club, while Kazi Mohammad Touhidul Anwar, the PIB Director (Administration), attended as the special guest speaker.
 
The event was conducted by Golam Mawla Murad, the General Secretary of the Chattogram Press Club, with contributions from senior Press Club member Moinuddin Quadri Shawkat, former general secretary Osman Gani Mansoor, senior vice-president Mustafa Naeem, and PIB trainer Zilhaj Uddin Nipun, among others, spoke at the function.