Exiled Journalist Imran Ansari Honoured by DUJ and BFUJ

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was handing over a floral wreath to Dr Imran Ansari

Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) jointly honoured exiled and persecuted journalist and international security expert Dr Imran Ansari for his significant role in the anti-fascist movement and the July uprising.

The reception was given at the National Press Club auditorium during a discussion event titled “The Role of Journalists in the Students-People July Uprising” on Thursday. Dr Ansari was presented with a crest of honour and floral wreath by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Leaders of various professional bodies, including Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary Mia Ghulam Parwar, were also present. 

The event was presided over by DUJ President Shahidul Islam. Speakers highlighted Dr Ansari’s extraordinary contribution to the July uprising and the broader struggle for democracy in Bangladesh.

In his address, Dr Imran Ansari stated that the success of the July uprising was possible because political forces like BNP and Jamaat continue to survive despite adversity. He also warned that Bangladesh currently faces severe national security threats due to what he described as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fascist conduct, the ongoing Rohingya crisis, unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and cyber security vulnerabilities.

He called on BNP and Jamaat to work in unison to overcome these growing challenges to the nation’s security.

Dr Imran Ansari, once a senior correspondent at Diganta TV—shut down during the Awami League regime—faced government persecution in 2014 and sought refuge in the United States. He returned to Bangladesh on 21 July after nearly twelve years in exile. 

While in the US, he remained an active journalist and activist, playing a vital role in the movement to restore democracy. He was also one of the organisers of the July uprising protest rally held in New York's Times Square.