Journalist Awrangzeb Kamal Receives the ‘World Honour’ from Kolkata’s Independence Day Celebration Committee
Recognition of His Contributions to Journalists’ Rights, Safety, and Humanitarian Service
By Our Own Correspondent
Awrangzeb Kamal, President of the World International Press Club (WIPC) and Dhaka Press Club, has been honoured with the prestigious ‘World Honour’ by the Independence Day Celebration Committee of Kolkata, India, in recognition of his contributions to promoting journalists’ rights, protecting their professional dignity and safety, and strengthening unity among journalists worldwide. The honour acknowledges his longstanding efforts for journalists’ welfare, humanitarian initiatives, and role in fostering international cooperation among media professionals.
The award was received on behalf of Awrangzeb Kamal by Samaresh Roy, Central Organising Secretary of the World International Press Club, and Sampa Das, Secretary for Women and Children’s Affairs of the organisation.
Samaresh Roy and Sampa Das described Awrangzeb Kamal of Bangladesh as an principled, capable, and humble journalist leader. They stated that he has consistently stood beside journalists facing various professional challenges and crises. In addition to his work to protect journalists’ rights and promote professional development, his humanitarian activities have also earned appreciation.
According to them, through the World International Press Club, communication, cooperation, and solidarity are being strengthened among journalists from more than 21 countries, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Canada, and the United States. They noted that this international network has already played a positive role in various initiatives involving journalists in Sri Lanka and India. On behalf of the people of India, they extended their best wishes to Awrangzeb Kamal and prayed for his good health and long life.
Babu Bishnu Chandra, head of the Independence Day Celebration Committee, said that the committee had been observing the humanitarian activities of the World International Press Club for a long time. Considering the various initiatives undertaken by its leader, Awrangzeb Kamal, and his contributions to journalists’ welfare, the committee unanimously decided to honour him. He expressed hope that the World International Press Club would continue to cooperate with the committee in its social and humanitarian activities in the future.
Shambhu Das, an official of the organisation, expressed gratitude for the support they had received from the World International Press Club through Indian journalists Samaresh Roy and Sampa Das. He also noted that this cooperation was helping to strengthen relations between journalists and social organisations in the two countries.
It was further announced at the event that India’s Dainik Duranta Bangla and Sonar Bangla TV had assisted with the arrangements and coordination for the award ceremony.
Awrangzeb Kamal: “This Honour Belongs to the Entire WIPC Family”
Reacting to the recognition, Awrangzeb Kamal, President of the World International Press Club, said:
“This achievement does not belong to me alone; it is recognition of the collective efforts of all journalist leaders, members, and well-wishers of the World International Press Club. Our Senior Vice President, Osman Baykuş of Türkiye; Ranga Bandaranayake of Sri Lanka; Central Secretary-General Mian Ishtiaq Ali of Pakistan; Central Organising Secretary Samaresh Roy of India; Secretary for Women and Children’s Affairs Sampa Das; Office Secretary Alhaj Sohag of Saudi Arabia; Anis Pradhan of Bangladesh; and numerous other journalist leaders are playing important roles in advancing our organisation’s activities.”
He further stated:
“With the cooperation of journalist leaders from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Canada, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other countries, the World International Press Club continues its efforts to unite journalists at the international level. Protecting journalists’ rights and safety, upholding their professional dignity, and ensuring mutual cooperation are among our principal objectives. This organisation does not belong to any single individual; it represents the collective strength and unity of journalists across the world.”
Awrangzeb Kamal expressed his deep gratitude to the Independence Day Celebration Committee of Kolkata for presenting him with the honour. On behalf of the journalist community of Bangladesh and the World International Press Club, he extended his sincere greetings and congratulations to the committee’s leaders. He also expressed his hope that cooperation with the organisation in its social and humanitarian activities would continue in the future.
Those involved in the initiative expressed their hope that the honour would inspire stronger relations between journalists and social organisations in Bangladesh and India, while further strengthening international journalistic solidarity through the promotion of rights, mutual support, and humanitarian cooperation.
WIPC Leaders Invited to National Press Day 2026 in Hyderabad
Meanwhile, a programme has been scheduled for 14 November 2026 in Hyderabad, India, to celebrate National Press Day 2026. The leadership of the World International Press Club has been formally invited to participate in the event, organised by the Press Club of Working Journalists and Editors Council, according to WIPC President Awrangzeb Kamal.
He stated that Dr. Syed Khalid Qais, National Chairman of the Press Club of Working Journalists and Editors Council, as well as a lawyer, author, and researcher, had sent a formal invitation letter to the leaders of the World International Press Club.
Awrangzeb Kamal expressed his hope that such initiatives would play an important role in strengthening communication, exchanging professional experiences, and promoting unity among journalists at the international level.
The leaders of the World International Press Club conveyed their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the organisers for extending the invitation. They expressed their hope that representatives of the organisation would participate in the programme, subject to their availability and circumstances, and that the event would open new avenues for cooperation and stronger relationships among journalist leaders from different countries.
Observers believe that both Awrangzeb Kamal’s recognition in Kolkata and the invitation extended to WIPC leaders to attend National Press Day 2026 in Hyderabad represent positive steps towards strengthening friendship, mutual understanding, and international solidarity between the journalistic communities of Bangladesh and India.
They expressed optimism that such initiatives would continue to expand in the future, contributing to the protection of journalists’ rights and safety, the preservation of professional dignity, and the promotion of humanitarian cooperation across borders.
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