Dhaka: Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) has elected M Azizur Rahman Ripon, a special correspondent for the Financial Express, as its new chairman. Serajul Islam Siraj, the chief reporter of barta24.com, has been appointed as the executive director.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the election took place during FERB’s biennial general meeting at Bidyut Bhaban and was presided over by outgoing chairman Shamim Jahangir. A total of 40 members participated in the voting process to select the nine-member executive committee for the upcoming two years.
Ripon secured the chairman position by receiving 22 votes, surpassing his rival Shahin Chowdhury, who garnered 18 votes. Meanwhile, Serajul Islam Siraj won the role of executive director with 28 votes, defeating his contender Lutfur Rahman Kakon, who received 12 votes.
Other members elected to the executive committee include Hasan Azad as vice chairman with 27 votes, Fazle Rabbi as Director of Development and Finance with 20 votes, and Abu Taher as Director of Research and Training with 21 votes. Sajeeb Ahmed was elected as Director of Data Bank, Atiqur Rahman Faisal as Director of Entertainment and Welfare with 26 votes, and Jannatul Ferdousi Shobha and Mahbub Rony as committee members.
The election was overseen by former public relations director of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Saiful Hasan Chowdhury, who served as the chief election commissioner. He was supported in this role by BPDB’s current public relations director Shamim Hasan and Petrobangla’s Deputy General Manager Tariqul Islam Khan, both of whom acted as election commissioners.