The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, directed the Information Ministry to hold discussions with the newspaper owners to form the 8th Wage Board for journalists and newspaper employees.
The directive came when a delegation of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, led by its president Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and secretary general Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, met her at the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday morning.
The prime minister also asked the information ministry to look into the matter whether the Newspapers Employees Services Conditions Act 1974 should be restored to enhance the dignity of the journalists.
The BFUJ leaders informed the prime minister that in 2006, during the last BNP-Jamaat government, the Act of 1974 has been changed and the journalists have been brought under the Labor Act.
During the meeting, Hasina further directed the Information ministry to create a fund for the welfare of the journalists.
Among other demands, the BFUJ leaders requested the prime minister to appoint the director general of Press Institute of Bangladesh from the journalist community.
Following the BFUJ leaders' request, the prime minister declared to donate Tk 30 lakh to the trust fund of the BFUJ for the welfare of the journalists.
Information minister Abul Kalam Azad, prime minister's principal secretary MA Karim and prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad were, among others, present.
Source : New Age
