It’s up to PM now: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will now take decision over the ninth wage board award for newspaper and news agency journalists and employees.

Talking to reporters at his secretariat office on various issues, Quader, who heads the seven-member cabinet committee on the wage board, said the process to send their recommendations in concise form to the prime minister is underway.

On July 25, Quader had said a cabinet committee finalised its report for endorsement of the ninth wage board for journalists, and after final approval by the cabinet, a gazette will be published for its implementation.

Yesterday, Quader, however, said there is no necessity for fresh discussion at the cabinet on the issue. “Recommendations in concise form will be sent to the prime minister and decision will come from her,”

he said. Asked when the proposal would be sent to the premier, Quader said, “It would be sent any day. It may be sent today or tomorrow.”

Replying to another question, Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said, “It is not possible for me to say when the prime minister will give a decision.”

The Supreme Court on August 20 cleared the way for the government to publish the gazette notification on implementing the recommendation of ninth wage board for journalists.

The apex court stayed for eight weeks the High Court order that issued status quo on publication of the gazette.

On August 6, the HC issued the status quo for two months. The court also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain why the unilateral finalisation of the award by the ninth wage board without giving the stakeholders opportunity to raise objections to the recommendations should not be declared illegal.