The Editors' Council has called for unity and an integrated initiative to come out of the deep crisis the country is now facing.

“A reactionary and communal evil force is involved in a deep-rooted conspiracy to destroy the stability of our motherland achieved through the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of lives,” it said in a statement signed by its General Secretary and The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam.

Issued yesterday, the statement was adopted at a meeting of the Editors' Council at The Daily Star Centre. Council President and Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar chaired the meeting.

Terrorist attacks at Gulshan's Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 and near Sholakia Eid congregation in Kishoreganj on July 7 killed more than two dozen people -- many of them foreigners, and some youths and policemen.  

Expressing deep concern over the attacks and offering condolences to the bereaved family members of the victims, the Council said the goal of the evil force is to send a wrong message to the world by brutally killing the innocent people and creating anarchy in the country.

“Apart from strict measures by the law enforcement agencies, familial, social and cultural awareness has to be raised to overcome the deep crisis,” the Council said in the statement.

“We all need to unite against this evil force.”

The meeting was attended by The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, Financial Express Editor AHM Moazzem Hossain, Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Noyeem Nizam, Nayadiganta Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, Dainik Azadi Editor MA Malek, Sangbad Editor (acting) Khandker Muniruzzaman, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Independent Editor M Shamsur Rahman, Jugantor Editor (acting) Saiful Alam, Bonik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud and Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan.