The Jatiya Press Club (JPC), the house of journalists, is going to step into its 68 years on Wednesday with a glorious history. After a hiatus of one year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the JPC passionately called as the ‘Second Home’ by its members, has been celebrating the big moment with various programmes since October 6 maintaining health safety protocols. A mini-marathon programme with the participation of the club members will be held in the early morning on Wednesday while the cultural function and annual dinner will be held on Friday as the 67th founding anniversary day of the club coincides with the holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi. The Jatiya Press Club started its journey in Dhaka on October 20, 1954. Besides being a meeting place for journalists, it provides a forum for political, social and cultural groups and individuals for holding press briefings and seminars. Also read: JPC Table Tennis: Mahbub Reza earns double crown On the occasion of its anniversary, JPC president Farida Yasmin said they could not arrange elaborate programmes to celebrate the 66th founding anniversary of the club due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We have had a miserable time over the last two years due to the pandemic. Our children have gotten fed up with staying indoors for a long time. The children and spouses of our members have been eagerly waiting to join the founding anniversary programmes. As the Covid situation is relatively better, we’ve decided to mark the event this time with various programmes,” she said. Farida said they want to turn the JPC into a more dignified institution so that it can help the journalists enhance their professional skills. Earlier on October 4, JPC joint general secretary Mainul Alam announced a two-week programme to celebrate the event. The programmes began on October 6 with a meeting remembering 34 club members who died over the last one year. Also read: Tarique’s videoconferencing at JPC unlawful: Farida Yasmin As part of the programmes, an eye camp was held on October 7 on the club premises, followed by Shishu Ananda Mela on October 8 and 9, chess competition on October 10 and 11 and spades trump competition on October 13 and 14, Ludo competition for female members on October 14, table tennis on October 16 and 17.

A sports festival began Sunday with chess competition at the Abdus Salam Hall of the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) to mark the 67th founding anniversary of the club. JPC President Farida Yesmin inaugurated the competition in the morning amid the great enthusiasm of the club members. JPC Senior Vice-President Hasan Hafiz, Joint Secretary Ashraf Ali, Treasurer Shahed Chowdhury; EC members Kazi Rownak Hossain, Banu Ranjan Chakraborthy and Baktier Rana were also present. JPC EC member and convener of the sports subcommittee Shahnaj Siddiqui Soma conducted the Walton-sponsored programme. Read: Sports Festival of Jatiya Press Club begins Thirty-two players are taking part in the five-round Swiss League based two-day competition. After the first two rounds on the first day, four players – Mohammad Rahim Uddin, Tapon Biwas, Nizamul Haque Bipul and Shahzad Mahmud Saifuddin – are dominating the meet, securing  full two points each. Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain followed the leaders with 1.5 points. The remaining three rounds of the meet will be held Monday from 11am at the same venue.

The Jatiya Press Club (JPC) will observe its 67th founding anniversary on October 20 after a gap of one year due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The two-week programmes will begin on October 6 with a remembrance meeting for the late club members, who died in the last one year. An eye camp will be held on October 7 at the club premises, followed by Shishu Ananda Mela on October 8 and 9, chess competition on October 10 and 11, an airgun shooting on October 12, spade trump on October 13 and 14. Ludo competition for female members will take place on October 14, table tennis on October 16 and 17 and mini marathon on October 20 in the early morning and a cultural function on the same day in the evening. Participants of Shishu Ananda Mela and sports competitions will have to make their entry into the competitions by October 6.

The Jatiya Press Club (JPC) on Wednesday strongly denounced Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) for seeking bank account details of 11 journalist leaders, and said it has tarnished the image of the journalist community. In an emergency meeting, the JPC managing committee demanded the BFIU immediately withdraw such a “disgraceful decision”, said a press release signed by JPC Joint Secretary Mainul Alam. “Under the existing law, allegations against an individual can be investigated. But there’re enough reasons to consider it a motivated decision since the letters were issued in the names of the elected top leaders of all organisations of only a particular profession (seeking their account details),” said the JPC meeting. Read: JPC strongly condemns Israeli brutality, airstrike targeting media houses Voicing surprise over the BFIU move, the meeting said, “The image of the journalist community has been tarnished with the seeking of bank account details of its leaders in a wholesale manner.  Even a national institution like the Jatiya Press Club has been put into question in an unprecedented way.” It also said the elected journalist leaders have been publicly humiliated and their social status has been tarnished. The BFIU of the Bangladesh Bank issued letters to the commercial banks asking for details of bank accounts of 11 journalist leaders last week.

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, a veteran journalist and senior member of the Jatiya Press Club (JPC), died from Covid-19 Wednesday. The 66-year-old passed away at Suhrawardy Hospital and left behind his wife and two sons. Ruhul last worked as a senior sub-editor at Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and went to retirement four years ago. He was also the founding secretary-general of the Bangladesh-South Africa Friendship Association and a producer and host of Bangladesh Television (BTV) programmes. READ: Ex-IGP AYBI Siddiqui passes away After graduating from Rajshahi University, he joined weekly Pabna Barta in 1980 as a journalist. Later, he worked for different media outlets including Dainik Bangla, and BSS. Ruhul was laid to rest at his family graveyard in Pabna's Bera Thursday. JPC President Farida Yasmin and General Secretary Elias Khan expressed deep shock at the death of the senior journalist. READ: EX-MP Khurram Khan dies of Covid-19 The JPC leaders conveyed deep sympathy to his bereaved family and prayed for the salvation of the departed soul, said JPC Joint Secretary Mainul Alam in a message.

Farida Yasmin of the Daily Ittefaq has created history by becoming the first woman to lead the apex organisation of journalists in Bangladesh.

Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday launched 24hours ambulance service for its members during the Covid-19 pandemic.   “The service was launched with assistance from Bangladesh Ambulance Malik Kallyan Samity,” said a press release.   Jatiya Press Club President Saiful Alam, General Secretary Farida Yasmin and Ambulance Malik Kallyan Samity President Golam Mostafa were present while launching the services on the Press Club premises.   Press Club Joint Secretary Mainul Alam, organizing committee member also Dhaka Union of Journalists President Kuddus Afrad, and Ambulance Malik Kallyan Samity general secretary Md badal Matbor were also present.   Jatiya Press Club Members were asked to contact Mohammad Selim Uddin over mobile phone- 01552 370 067 for availing of the service.   Earlier on May 19, Jatiya Press Club opened a booth for collecting samples from coronavirus suspect journalists.   The booth was installed in association with Brac.

Jatiya Press Club (JPC) has suspended all of its activities and services from March 21 to March 31 to prevent the further spread of coronavirus.   The club managing committee took the decision at an emergency meeting on Friday considering the health safety of club members and staff, said a press release signed by JPC General Secretary Farida Yasmin.   Expressing sorrow for the inconvenience, the JPC authorities said all the activities and services will resume when the situation gets normal.   They also sought cooperation from all club members in this regard.