The Shampadak Parishad (Editors’ Council) has formed its new executive committee with The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam as its president and Bangladesh Protidin Editor Naem Nizam as general secretary.

The new committee, which will take charge next month and function till September 2021, was formed at a meeting at The Daily Star Centre on Sunday.

The committee includes five office-bearers and four executive members, said a Shampadak Parishad press release yesterday.

Tasmima Hossain, editor of Ittefaq, has been made vice president while Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor and publisher of Bonik Barta, is assistant general secretary, and Mustafiz Shafi, acting editor of Samakal, is treasurer.

The four executive members are Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor of Manabzamin; Saiful Alam, acting editor of Jugantor; Shyamal Dutta, editor of Bhorer Kagoj; and MA Malek, editor of Dainik Azadi.

Mahfuz Anam was general secretary of the outgoing committee while Samakal editor Golam Sarwar, who died last year, was its president.

The parishad was founded in 2013 to play an active role in protecting press freedom, developing professional journalism and strengthening the editorial institution.

Golam Sarwar was its founding president.

At Sunday’s meeting, the parishad also decided to launch its official website, recruit new members, and organise seminars and other events on press freedom and other journalism-related issues.

The parishad plans to hold a seminar in the coming months on strengthening the future of the print media and its challenges.

It was also decided that the parishad will expand its activities and membership at the district level, added the press release.