Bangladesh’s defence correspondents and military officials came together on Tuesday for an intensive 'Workshop on Defence Journalism', aimed at sharpening the media’s ability to report on national security, maritime affairs, and peacekeeping operations.
The event organised by the Defence Journalist Association of Bangladesh (DJAB) with support from the Bangladesh Navy, took place at the hall room of Hotel Swapnil Sindhu in Cox’s Bazar.
Presided over by DJAB President Alamgir Hossain, the workshop featured speeches from senior Navy officials and veteran journalists specialising in defence reporting. DJAB General Secretary Ahamed Ullah delivered the welcome address.
During the workshop, Navy officials highlighted their continuous surveillance of Bangladesh’s maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal, as well as their participation—alongside the Army and Air Force—in operations under the “In Aid to Civil Power” mandate. These include disaster response, such as ferry accidents and natural calamities.
The officials also noted that since 2018, the Bangladesh Navy has become a three-dimensional force, operating across sea, land, and air. They further emphasised the Navy’s notable contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Research and Training Secretary of DJAB Ali Asif Shawon presented an overview of the organisation, elaborating on various aspects of defence journalism.
Senior DJAB member and Daily Kaler Kantho City Editor Kazi Hafiz said that such workshops could significantly enhance the quality of defence news gathering and reporting. Sharing his long-standing professional experience, he also discussed the work of Bangladesh’s armed forces in UN peacekeeping missions.
The workshop was also attended by DJAB Vice-President Tarikul Islam Masum, Treasurer Jamal Uddin, Organising Secretary Miraj Mizu, Joint Secretary Kazi Sohag, Office Secretary Ismail Hossain Imu, Publicity and Publication Secretary Kamal Hossain Talukder, Sports and Cultural Secretary Sazzad Mahmud Khan, and Executive Members M M Badsha and Arifur Rahman Rabbi.
Around 30 Dhaka-based journalists participated in the event, many of whom shared their own experiences in defence reporting.
