The National Editors Council (NEC) has been formed to safeguard press freedom, improve journalistic standards, and protect the professional interests of editors. The decision was made on Tuesday at a meeting held at the office of the daily Amar Desh, where editors from various national dailies participated. The meeting appointed Shafik Rehman, editor of Jaijaidin, as convener and Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh, as joint convener of a 13-member convening committee.

Other members of the committee include editors from Naya Diganta, Kaler Kantho, Jugantor, Protidiner Bangladesh, Sangram, The New Nation, Wada, Manab Kantha, Loksomaj, Daily Peoples View, and Jalalabad. The editors agreed on the necessity of forming this new organization to address the deterioration of the media sector during one and a half decades of authoritarian rule.

The meeting also decided to draft the organization’s constitution, initiate training programs to enhance journalistic excellence, and organize a national convention involving editors from national and regional newspapers as soon as possible.