The country's newspaper industry will be missing the presence of editors A.H.M. Moazzem Hossain and Golam Sarwar during the ongoing crisis period.
Terming the editors of The Financial Express and Bangla daily Samokal men of professionalism and institutions, they called upon the young journalists to follow their paths and ideals in taking the industry to a new height.
The remarks and call came at a meeting to commemorate the roles and contributions of the two veteran journalists and editors, who passed away last month.
The Editors' Council, a platform of editors, organised the commemoration at Jatiya Press Club in the city. It was moderated by senior journalist and the council's member Reazuddin Ahmed.
Editor of Bangla daily Prothom Alo Motiur Rahman said the industry has been passing tough time due to many crises from managerial, financial and legal aspects and the digital act is one of such adversaries.
"The time is not good for the industry. During the time, the presence of Moazzem (Hossain) and (Golam) Sarwar would have been better for us," he said.
Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam remembered the journalistic skills and creative work of the duo.
He said A.H.M. Moazzem Hossain was one of the few individuals founding the English newspaper -- The Daily Star -- from where he switched and brought out the country's first ever specialised financial daily -- The Financial Express.
"He (Moazzem Hossain) showed us how to make such a financial daily reliable and profitable. I regularly read the Financial Express and its editorials to make business section of my daily better," said Mr. Anam, also general-secretary of the council.
Editor of New Age Nurul Kabir said it is painful to lose two colleagues in a same month. "Both were very warm individuals and worked in a professional and efficient way," he said.
Editor of the Manabzamin and treasurer of the council Matiur Rahman Chowdhury said Golam Sarwar was the principal of his career as he learned many things in journalism from him.
"He (Sarwar) was the best news editor. There is no alternative to him," he said.
On the other hand, Moazzem Hossain took the level of financial journalism to a new height, he noted.
"We should not be stopped by only arranging a few commemoration meetings for them as it was in the past. Time has come to think how the young or future journalists can benefit from the enlightened work of the duo," Sailful Alam of Dainik Jugantor said.
Moderator and founding chief editor of The Financial Express Reazuddin Ahmed said he worked 49 years out of his 51 years of journalism with Moazzem Hossain.
He also remembered moments passed with late Golam Sarwar.
"Both of them enriched the profession. Now it's our responsibility to take it further," he said.
Publisher of Dainik Samakal AK Azad said both journalists were the great human beings.
He said Golam Sarwar took care of not only the reporters and their families as well while the depth of knowledge of Moazzem Hossain was incredible.
Remembering the work of late Moazzem Hossain, acting editor of The Financial Express Shahiduzzaman Khan said he tried not to go anywhere except the office.
"He got in contact with the office online even from his home. He worked 10-12 hours a day. It's very hard to find a professional editor like him," he said.
Acting editor of Samakal Mostafiz Shafi, president of Jatiya Press Club Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman and its general secretary Farida Yasmin, among others, spoke at the event.
