Editors push for talks to resolve political crisis
FE Report | Monday, 26 January 2015
The editors of newspapers urged the government on Sunday to hold talks with political parties and reach a consensus on how to resolve the ongoing political crisis.
Their call came at a meeting with the government ministers at the conference room of the Ministry of Information at Bangladesh Secretariat.
The meeting started at 11:00 am and lasted until around 1:30 pm. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu presided over the meeting.
President of the Editors' Council and the Editor of daily Samakal Golam Sarwar led the delegation.
Editor of the Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Financial Express Moazzem Hossain, editor of the Manabjamin Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, editor of the Kaler Kantha Imdadul Haq Milon, editor of the New Age Nurul Kabir, editor of the Amader Orthoniti Naimul Islam Khan, editor of the Bhorer Kagoj Syamal Dutta, executive editor of the daily Jugantar Saiful Alam, editor of Bangladesh Pratidin Nayeem Nizam, editor of Alokito Bangladesh Qazi Rafiqul Alam, editor of Shokaler Khobor Mozzamel Hossain, senor journalists Qazi Siraj and Amanullah Kabir, among others, were present.
After the meeting, Golam Sarwar said they suggested a dialogue to hammer out a consensus among the political parties to resolve the ongoing crisis.
"We (Editors Council) have told the government that the countrymen want to see peace and security. They want to live in peace. They want to get rid of the present conflicting situation," Golam Sarwar said.
"There is no alternative to dialogue to get rid of the present political crisis," he said.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the government would consider the suggestions given by the Editors Council for a dialogue and building consensus.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, State Minister for Labour Mojibul Haq Chunnu and Prime Minister's Information Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, among others, were also present.
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