Staff Correspondent: The process of granting new permanent memberships at the National Press Club has sparked widespread anger and dissatisfaction among media professionals across the country. Following the publication of the latest membership list, a section of senior and professional journalists has accused the current executive committee of bias and unfair decision-making. Several veteran journalists have reportedly stopped visiting the club in protest.
According to discussions within journalist circles, the National Press Club published a list of 441 new members on May 12, 2026. However, controversy erupted after allegations surfaced that the list included individuals who are not directly involved in journalism, while many veteran journalists with more than four decades of field experience were excluded.
Among those reportedly deprived are former journalist leaders Mannan Akon, Nurul Hossain Kaiyum, and Zakir Hossain. Colleagues and supporters claim that they had long been associated with journalist unions, leadership roles, and democratic movements for nearly 40 years. They also alleged that many who actively participated in the July movement, risking their lives on the streets, were ignored in the evaluation process.
Several senior and lifetime members of the National Press Club have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current executive committee. According to them, the club has historically maintained a distinct standard, dignity, and professional criteria in granting membership. They argue that awarding memberships to non-journalists, amateurs, or relatively junior individuals while excluding experienced professionals goes against the constitution and ethical values of the institution.
Veteran journalists further alleged that the list contains names of individuals who are not members of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and whose direct involvement in journalism remains questionable. On the other hand, many senior journalists who have worked in mainstream journalism with integrity and professionalism for 40 to 45 years were left out of the final list.
The deprived journalists described the incident as “a gross humiliation of merit” and termed the executive committee’s decision as “conscience-less and irresponsible.” Since the publication of the list, they have been protesting the decision and demanding a review and correction of what they describe as a flawed selection process.
Despite growing criticism, no visible initiative has yet been taken by the National Press Club authorities to remove controversial names or conduct a fresh review of the membership list, according to the aggrieved journalists.
Meanwhile, a large section of media professionals believes that lobbying and personal favoritism are damaging the reputation and tradition of the historic institution. They demanded the immediate cancellation of memberships granted to non-journalists and called for deserving veteran and professional journalists to receive their rightful recognition.
Attempts were made to contact the President and General Secretary of the National Press Club for comments. Text messages were sent to them via WhatsApp, but no response was received until the filing of this report.