Journalist, educator and community organiser Mohammad Abdul Matin, a distinguished son of Bhola, has been re-elected president of the Australia Bangladesh Journalists Association (ABJA).

With more than three decades of experience in journalism, education and community service, Matin currently serves as country editor (Australia) of the daily Kalbela, editor of the online news outlet Bidesh Bangla, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Reliable College of Nursing (RCN).

He was re-elected at the association’s annual general meeting and election held on Sunday (October 25) at the Red Rose Function Centre in Rockdale, Sydney. In addition to ABJA members, representatives of various social, cultural and professional organisations, politicians, academics, writers, journalists and senior community leaders attended the event. A new 17-member executive committee was formed through the election.

The election commission was composed of Professor Dr Wali Ul Islam, Dr Sabrina Faruqi OAM, and Professor Dr Mohammad Mizanur Rahman.

Matin began his journalism career with the daily Azad in 1989. In 1991, he joined the English-language daily The Daily Star. Over the course of his career, he has worked with several national and international media outlets. During his journalism career in Bangladesh, he covered major state institutions and political affairs, including the Secretariat, National Parliament, Prime Minister’s Office and Bangabhaban.

After moving to Australia, he continued his involvement in journalism and the media. Alongside serving as Kalbela’s country editor in Australia, he is also the editor of Bidesh Bangla. He is a member of Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), a professional organisation representing workers in Australia’s media, entertainment and arts sectors, and the Local and Independent News Association (LINA). He previously served as general secretary of the Sydney Press and Media Council.

His association with the Australia Bangladesh Journalists Association spans more than a decade. Through the organisation, he has worked to strengthen professional networking and cooperation among expatriate Bangladeshi journalists, writers, poets, literary figures, academics and media professionals. He has also been involved in efforts to protect journalists’ professional dignity and interests and expand welfare activities.

Alongside journalism, Matin has extensive experience in education and training. He serves as CEO of Reliable College of Nursing (RCN), a registered educational institution in Australia. He has long been involved in matters concerning international students, education and training, and the expatriate Bangladeshi community. He is also a Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QEAC) and a Justice of the Peace (JP) in New South Wales.

His professional experience extends beyond media and education into technology and the private sector. He has been involved in non-inventory procurement operations at Amazon in Australia and has received training in skills related to the operation and maintenance of robotics systems. He earned the Universal Procedures Upskill Certificate from Amazon Robotics University.

In recognition of his contributions to public service during the COVID-19 pandemic, Matin received the COVID Hero Award and the Pandemic Hero Award. Federal Minister Tony Burke presented him with the COVID Hero Award, while the Canterbury-Bankstown City Council conferred the Pandemic Hero Award.

He has also received recognition from Wendy Elizabeth Lindsay, Member of Parliament for East Hills in New South Wales, and the mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown City Council. More recently, the Bangladesh Association of Australia honoured him for his contributions to journalism, education and community service over more than two decades in Australia.

His re-election as ABJA president ensures continuity in the organisation’s leadership. It is expected that the new executive committee will further strengthen unity among expatriate Bangladeshi journalists and writers, protect their professional dignity and interests, promote mutual cooperation and expand community welfare initiatives.

Following his re-election, individuals, organisations and professionals from different sections of the Bangladeshi community in Australia congratulated Mohammad Abdul Matin.