ZCZC
BSS-36
JOURNALISTS-WAGE-BOARD
BFUJ, DUJ smell plot against wage board
DHAKA, July 3, 2018 (BSS) – Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists
(BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) today smelled a “plot” to upset
the process for newsmen’s wage enhancement as an expected gazette was yet to
be published proposed by the 9th Wage Board five months ago.
In a joint statement, BFUJ President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul and its
Secretary General Omar Faruq, and DUJ President Abu Zafar Surja and its
General Secretary Sohel Haider Chowdhury condemned the dillydally of the
Newspapers Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) in implementing the
directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this regard.
“The representatives of NOAB earlier attended the inaugural meeting of
the 9th wage board in presence of Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and
announced dearness allowance…but, suddenly NOAB started hatching conspiracy
to procrastinate the 9th wage Board making the whole process questionable,”
the statement reads.
Expressing grave concern over the sluggish process of the ministry
concerned to declare dearness allowance for journalists and employees of
newspapers and news agencies, they alleged that a vested quarter was trying
to create unstable situation in mass media prior to the next general
election.
“People of all other professions are enjoying all sorts of benefits in
many ways, but the media people are being deprived of getting their rights,”
the statement said.
The journalist leaders urged the authorities concerned to announce
dearness allowance for journalists and workers of newspapers and news
agencies and publish a gazette notification immediately.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Newspapers Press Workers (BFUNPW) and
Bangladesh Sangbadpatra Karmachari Ferderation (BSKF), in a joint statement,
also condemned the dillydally process of the 9th wage board.
BFUNPW President M Alamgir Hossain Khan and its Secretary General M
Kamal Uddin, and BSKF President Motiur Rahman Talukder and its Secretary
General M Khairul Islam demanded immediate implementation of the 9th wage
board.
On January 29 last, the government constituted the 9th Wage Board to
propose enhanced salary and other benefits for newsmen and employees of
newspapers and news agencies.
BSS/PR/SIR/MRI/2000 hrs