Doulot Akter Mala, a special correspondent for The Financial Express, has been elected president of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF), an organisation for finance and business journalists. 

Abul Kashem, a special correspondent for The Business Standard, was re-elected as the general secretary. 

Mala bagged a total of 114 votes to secure victory while her nearest rival, Refayet Ullah Mirdha, senior correspondent of The Daily Star and the outgoing ERF president, got 82 votes. 

Abul Kashem got 93 votes, with his closest rival Mizanur Rahman securing 48 votes.

The new leadership will guide the ERF through the 2025-26 term.

The elections, held during the ERF's biennial meeting at its Purana Paltan office on Friday, were overseen by Hasan Hafiz, chairman of the board of directors and president of the National Press Club. 

The election board included Ayub Bhuiyan, general secretary of the National Press Club, and former General Secretary Syed Abdal Ahmed.