The Jatiya Press Club (JPC), passionately called as the ‘Second Home’ by its members, has taken up various programmes to celebrate its 67th founding anniversary after a hiatus of one year due to the pandemic.
JPC acting general secretary Mainul Alam unveiled the two-week programme at a views-exchange meeting with journalists at an auditorium of the club on Monday.
He said the programmes will begin on October 6 with a meeting remembering 34 club members who died over the last one year.
As part of other programmes, Mainul said, an eye camp will be 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, an air-gun shooting competition on October 12 and spades trump competition on October 13 and 14.
Besides, he said, Ludo competition for female members will take place on October 14, table tennis on October 16 and 17 and mini-marathon in the early morning of October 20 and a cultural function on the same day in the evening.
The participants of Shishu Ananda Mela and sports competitions will have to ensure their entries into the competitions by October 6.
Speaking at the programme, JPC President Farida Yasmin said they could not arrange elaborate programmes last year, rather than arranging a memorial meeting, 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 at home for a long time. The children and spouses of our members are 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.
The JPC president said they will arrange all the programmes maintaining social distancing and health safety rules as the virus is yet to be eliminated.
She said 34 JPC members died over the last one year since October 11. “So, we’re passing through a very painful and sad time. But we’ve to move ahead amid such a bad time.”
Farida said the media sector has been growing through a crisis period like all other sectors, but the situation is improving and media outlets are trying to stay afloat overcoming all the difficulties.
She said they want to turn the JPC into a more dignified institution so that it can help the journalists enhance their professional skills.
The JPC president said they have already held various programmes, including seminars, to develop the skills of journalists.
She said they will celebrate Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and the golden jubilee of independence in a grand manner in December, the month of victory.
MoU with Press Club of India
Farida said the Jatiya Press Club and the Press Club of India, Delhi have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase mutual cooperation among the journalists of the two neighbouring countries.
As per the MoU, she said, JPC members will be able to use the facilities of the Press Club of India while their members can use all the JPC facilities during their visits.
Besides, the JPC president said, various reciprocal programmes will be taken to enhance the cooperation between the members of the two clubs.
She said both the clubs will jointly organise training and various other programmes for enhancing the professional efficiency of journalists.
Source: United News of Bangladesh