The country’s first international conference for media workers will take place in the capital during 8-9 May with the participation of journalists and experts from different countries.

The two-day conference titled “Bangladesh Journalism Conference” will be organised by the Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka.

Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), disclosed the information at a press conference held at AS Mahmud Seminar Hall at Daily Star Building, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka on Thursday.

Speaking at the press conference, MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman said the conference will bring together local and international journalists, media experts, researchers, and policymakers. The conference will create opportunities for journalists, media professionals, and experts to exchange experiences and foster collaboration.

In future, the Bangladesh Journalism Conference will evolve into an important platform for journalists and aspiring professionals as a platform for professional networking in the years ahead, he added.

This conference will hold in-depth discussions on the current state of journalism in Bangladesh and try to find out viable solutions to existing challenges in light of global experiences, Hasibur Rahman said.

He hope the conference will help create a foundation for promoting Bangladeshi journalism in the international arena and elevating it to global standards.

The conference will focus on issues such as objective investigative reporting, improving the quality of public interest journalism, safeguarding ethics amid technological change, and developing accountability frameworks to address the crisis of public trust in the media. It will also highlight inclusive newsrooms, particularly increasing women’s participation.

Int'l participants

Several prominent international media professionals have already confirmed their participation. These include Michael Cooke, former Editor of the Toronto Star, Investigative journalist and filmmaker Julian Sher is also expected to attend,” said Hasibur Rahman.

Zaffar Abbas, editor of Dawn, Pakistan and Swati Bhattacharjee, senior assistant editor at Anandabazar Patrika, Kolkata, is expected to join the conference, he said.

Other confirmed participants include Kunda Dixit, publisher of Nepali Times, Rohit Bhan, Digital Editor at The Tribune and media self - regulation expert Joan Barata.

In addition, Kholikul Alim, an editor associated with the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and from London editor engineer Shakeel Anwar will also join the event.

Alongside international guests, leading figures from Bangladesh’s journalism sector are also expected to participate in the conference.

During the press conference, the official logo and website of the Bangladesh Journalism Conference were unveiled.

Conference's details

More than 500 participants, including news media owners, editors, leaders of journalist unions and associations, representatives from civil society, university faculty and students and development partners, are expected to join the conference.

The participating countries are India, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Bangladesh.

The conference will feature a total of 12 sessions with more than 20 speakers. The program will include plenary sessions, thematic discussions, parallel tracks and master classes.

In addition, four helpdesks will be set up at the venue on investigative journalism, Right to Information (RTI), fact-checking, and mental health support.

Key topics will include investigative journalism, media self-regulation, accountability and grievance redress mechanisms, freedom of the media, digital transformation, data use, gender equality, and journalist safety.

How to register

Participants must register through MRDI’s designated website (https://bdjc.mrdibd.org/). Registration will begin at 12:01am on 17 April and will continue until 25 April 2026.

Upon submission of the registration request, organisers will review and confirm the attendance to selected participants through email communications. After registration, selected participants will receive a QR code required for entry into the conference.

There are four registration categories: journalists, MRDI alumni, students, and others. However, students must complete MRDI’s online Basic Journalism course to be eligible. Selection for student participation will be based on the results of this course. Fellowships will be provided to 15 journalists from outside Dhaka.

The conference is supported by the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and the Swedish government as knowledge partners, while UNESCO and the UN Ballot Programme are listed as platinum partners.