Editors’ Council President and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir on Saturday said maintaining diversity of opinions in society is crucial, noting that differences in views and voices are a natural and necessary part of a democratic culture.
“There will be different opinions and different voices in society. People will speak in different ways, and it is very important to preserve this diversity,” he said in his welcome speech at the first-ever Media Convention 2026, organized by the Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at the Krishibid Institution in Dhaka.
Nurul Kabir said unity among media professionals is essential, alongside collective efforts to overcome challenges and promote democratic values across society.
“Newspapers and other media institutions are not merely platforms for a few hundred journalists. If they become inactive or are unable to raise their voices, rights across the entire society are bound to be violated,” he said.
He added that in any country, the development of the media and overall democratic progress are closely and inseparably linked.
Referring to the current political context, Nurul Kabir said the country is passing through a transitional phase from an authoritarian system to a democratic one.
“At a time when struggles are under way for democratic reform of the media, politics, and various state institutions, media organizations are being attacked,” he said.
He also alleged that the spirit of the July movement was being distorted in its own name.
“Those involved are trying to destroy the fundamental democratic spirit of July by using July itself,” he said, adding that unity and a conscious collective struggle are needed at such a critical time.
Editors of leading newspapers, including The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, also spoke at the conference. National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz was among the speakers.
The event was moderated by Editors’ Council General Secretary and Banik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud.