Leaders of journalist unions have expressed their concern over the delay in publishing a gazette notification on dearness allowances by the government.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, they also demanded the announcement of 9th Wage Board within due time and publishing of gazette notification on dearness allowances immediately.

BFUJ President Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul and Secretary General Omar Faruk, and DUJ President Abu Zafar Surjo and General Secretary Sohel Haider Chowdhury issued the joint statement criticising NOAB.

They said the formation of 9th Wage Board was delayed citing “different excuses” despite a clear directive from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

They said NOAB sent its representatives to meetings where they spoke abuot the formation of a new wage board in the presence of Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu.

“People from all professions are enjoying different benefits but news media workers are being deprived of their rights,” they said in the statement.

Earlier, the High Court issued an order on the legality of the 9th Wage Board formed to determine the salaries and benefits of journalists and staff of newspapers and news agencies.

The HC on Sunday issued the rule asking the information secretary, labour secretary and chairman of the 9th wage board to explain in two weeks why the board should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), challenging legality of the formation of the 9th Wage Board.

The government on January 29 constituted the 9th Wage Board to propose enhanced salary and other benefits of newsmen and employees of newspapers and news agencies.