Journos to hold nationwide protests today

Journalists yesterday called for a countrywide protest rally to be held today, demanding implementation of the ninth wage board for journalists, said a press release yesterday.    

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) called the rally, condemning the writ petition placed by Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (Noab) to postpone implementation of the wage board.

They also spoke against lay-off of employees at different media houses. BFUJ demanded a law for journalists, ensuring their job security, stated the release.

As part of the protest, BFUJ and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) will hold a press conference and procession in front of Jaitya Press Club in the capital.

Journalist organisations are scheduled to submit a memorandum to Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud in this regard today.

The government on January 29 last year constituted the ninth wage board to propose enhanced salary and other benefits for journalists and other employees of newspapers and news agencies.

However, Noab voiced its concerns regarding the stipulations, following which the government formed a seven-member cabinet committee, headed by Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, to review it.

On July 25, Obaidul  Quader had said the cabinet committee had finalised  its report for cabinet endorsement, adding that “after the final  approval [by the cabinet], a gazette will be published” for its  implementation. However, the High Court on August 6 issued status quo for two months on publication of gazette notification on implementing the recommendations, following a writ petition filed by Noab President Matiur Rahman, also the editor of Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

The government recently filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the HC order. A chamber judge of the SC on August 14 sent the petition to a full bench and set August 19 for hearing on it.