Journalists' hunger strike today

Journalists will stage a daylong hunger strike at Jatiya Press Club today, demanding immediate announcement of the 9th wage board for them.

“The 8th wage board was formed on June 19, 2012 and the gazette of the board's award was issued on September 22, 2013,” said Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, president of BFUJ, yesterday.

The journalists were discriminated against when the national pay-scale was announced in 2015, he also said after a BFUJ executive committee meeting in the press club. The journalist community placed their demand for the 9th wage board to the information ministry in early 2016, but it is still not being taken into consideration for immediate announcement, he added.

Members of the BFUJ federal executive committee at the meeting said the journalist community has been suffering from extreme hardship caused by the discrimination. The BFUJ leaders urged the government to consider formation of the 9th wage board on an urgent basis and announce it without any further delay.