Daily Nayadiganta's chief reporter Abu Saleh Akon and Daily Inqilab's senior reporter Mainul Hasan Sohel have been elected president and general secretary respectively of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
Chief Election Commissioner MA Aziz announced the results of the DRU election at the DRU office at Segunbagicha in the capital on Saturday (November 30) evening.
A total of 35 candidates contested for 21 posts if the new executive committee of the DRU for the next one year (2025).
In this year's election, a total of 1,425 ballots were casted. Abu Saleh Akon was elected as president receiving 801 votes. His nearest candidate Mursalin Nomani bagged 496 votes, while Shariful Islam Bilu received 102 votes.
Mainul Hasan Sohel was elected general secretary receiving 508 votes, while his nearest rival Shahnaz Sharmin obtained 364 votes. Another rival Abdullah Al Kafi got 289 votes and Mahmudul Hasan bagged 210 votes.
In the new committee, Gazi Anwar was elected as vice-president, Nadia Sharmin as joint secretary, Abdul Hye Tuhin as organizing secretary, Rafique Rafi as office secretary, Rozina Rosy as women affairs sectary, Mizan Chowdhury as publicity and publication secretary, Shariful Islam as information technology and training secretary and Md Mojibur Rahman as sports secretary.
Candidates in four, out of 21 posts, were elected uncontested in this year's election. Those who elected uncontested were Sakhawat Sumon as finance secretary, Emdad Khan as cultural secretary, Salim Ullah Mesbah as entertainment secretary and Rafique Mridha as welfare secretary.
Besides, seven candidates who were elected in the executive committee member posts were: Junayed Shishir (The South Asian Times), Aktaruzzaman (Bangladesh Protidin), Md Borhan Uddin (Dhaka Mail), Aminul Huq Bhuiyan (Dainik Ganamukti), Md Faruque Alam (Alokito Bangladesh), Sumon Chowdhury (Bangladesh Kantha) and SU Selim (SA TV).
Earlier, vote casting went on at the DRU premises from 9:00am to 5:00pm
