The journalistic community of Jessore has expressed unified support for Anindya Islam Amit, the BNP-backed candidate of the Dhaka paddy sheaf symbol in the upcoming 12th Jatiya Sangsad election from Jashore -3 (Sadar) constituency.

The pledge was made at an exchange-of-views meeting organised by the Jashore  Press Club and the local journalists’ community at Orion Hotel on Tuesday. Anindya Islam Amit, also a member of the Jessore Press Club, was present at the event.

Speaking at the meeting, journalists said that although Anindya Islam Amit has a political identity, he is essentially one of their colleagues. They expressed the hope that not only journalists but also their family members and relatives would stand by him to ensure his victory in the election.

Participants also discussed the roles and responsibilities of both Amit and the journalists’ community in the upcoming polls. Journalists from various newspapers, television channels, online platforms and news portals working in Jashore  attended the meeting held on Tuesday night.

Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Anindya Islam Amit recalled that during the 11th national parliamentary election, when he was subjected to repeated attacks and cases by what he termed the “musclemen of the Awami League,” it was the journalist community that stood by him when no one else did.

He said he was born and raised in Jashore  and has a deep understanding of the region’s history and heritage. Amit pledged to work towards restoring Jashore’s lost heritage, communal harmony and spirit of coexistence.

Expressing firm commitment to establishing political coexistence and harmony in Jessore, he said politics of vengeance would never prevail in the district. He praised the journalist community for its strong role over the past 16 years in the struggle for democracy and said he wanted to move forward in the coming days with journalists by his side. He also sought everyone’s prayers.

The meeting was moderated by Jashore  Press Club General Secretary SM Touhidur Rahman and Jashore  Journalists’ Union General Secretary SM Forhad.

Among those who spoke were Mobinul Islam Mobin, secretary of the Newspaper Council and editor of Gramer Kagoj; Ahsan Kabir Babu, editor and publisher of Subarnabhumi; Binoy Krishna Mallik, editor of Telegram; Anwarul Kabir Nantu, acting editor of Daily Loksamaj; Aminur Rahman, acting editor of Samajer Kotha; senior journalist Benzin Khan; Loksamaj news editor Shikdar Khalid; Subarnabhumi news editor Md Sarwar Hossain; Akramuzzaman, president of Journalists’ Union Jashore ; Sajed Rahman Babul, president of Jessore Journalists’ Union; its general secretary Habibur Rahman Milon; Sheikh Dinu Ahmed, president of Jessore District Journalists’ Union; and its general secretary Dewan Morshed Alam.

Others included Sakirul Kabir Riton, Jessore correspondent of DBC Television; Jewel Mridha, staff reporter of Somoy TV; Tamanna Khan Chowdhury, correspondent of ATN Bangla; Monirul Islam, Jashore  correspondent of Prothom Alo; Indrajit Roy, staff reporter of Jugantor; and Tahmina Khatun, staff reporter of Gramer Kagoj.

Also present were district BNP President Advocate Syed Saberul Haque Sabu, General Secretary Delwar Hossain Khokon, Loksamaj publisher Shantanu Islam Sumit, district BNP Organising Secretary Engineer Rabiul Islam, Sheikh Shahidul Bari Robu, Jessore city BNP President Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury Mulluk Chand, and Sadar Upazila BNP General Secretary Anzarul Haque Khokon, among others. The programme began with recitation from the Holy Quran by journalist SM Sohel and recitation from the Gita by journalist Pradip Ghosh.