A strong journalists’ forum named as Economic Journalists Network (EJ Net) has been formed with the journalists working in the 16 districts of northern region. Members of this network have already been appreciated by all for their active and helpful role in promoting trade and economic development in the region.

With the view to highlighting and promoting business, trade and economic activities and potential of the northern region of the country, EJ Net emerged its expedition in the month of October in 2006. With the support of European Union, mass communication oriented development organization CCD is playing active role in forming and continuing this network.

In the meantime, EJ Net emerged as a strong economic journalists’ forum in all districts of the northern region. Moreover, separate committees have been formed in all 16 districts with the journalists of regional and national news media. The most renowned journalists of the respective districts are leading the EJ Net committees there.

Members of the EJ Nets arrange a networking meeting and chalk out plans and implement their activities in the respective area every month. Up to this month, a total of 120 networking meetings were held in these districts. Attending these meetings, members of this network try to identify the basic hindrance and potential of local economic and trade issues related development and they conduct media campaign to focus these issues in the national level. As a result, the media coverage on local economic development issues of the northern region has increased many times in the national news media. Almost every day, some news stories related to the economic development of the northern region are being published in the national and regional newspapers.

EJ Net has already awarded fellowship to 70 journalists to prepare investigative reports on local economic development, problems and potentials of trade and business promotion in the districts of northern region. The fellow journalists are preparing significant investigative reports on the local economic issues. The fellow journalists not only prepared the reports, they also arranged dialogues and presented their reports there. A total of 17 dialogues have already been arranged in these districts by EJ Net Along with the journalists, a large number of industrialists, businessmen, leaders of chamber of commerce, higher officials of different Government and non-government organizations, teachers and professional leaders took part in the dialogues. All the concerned professionals appraised the initiative of such dialogues and recommended to continue it for the promotion of local economic and trade related activities. Moreover, through these dialogues, a good link and interaction developed among the journalists and other professional leaders of business and trade sector.

Convener of EJ Net Rajshahi and Executive Editor of the daily Sonali Sangbad Molazzem Hossain said, this economic forum of journalists have become truly effective one for the trade and economic development in the neglected northern region. Convener of EJ Net-Bogra and senior reporter of the daily Janakantha Samudra Hoque termed this network as a leading force of trade, business and economic development of the northern region of the country.

Convener of EJ Net-Rangpur and Journalist of the daily Ittefaq Md Wadood Ali said, the activities of this forum proved that the journalists can play a pioneering role in the local trade and business related development.

Convener of EJ Net-Pabna and Editor of the daily Nirvor Abdul Matin Khan said, through their writings on different potential of local economic development, journalists are promoting trade and business activities in this region successfully.

Convener of EJ Net-Joypurhat and Journalist of the daily Ittefaq Prof Abul Hossain said, EJ Net has succeeded to bring all the journalists of different groups to a single platform under this network for the promotion of local economic activities.

Convener of EJ Net-Dinajpur and News Editor of the daily Protidin Nurul Huda Dulal said, this forum is playing effective role in discovering new business idea for local economic development in the country.

[Last Updated on 29 December, 2007]