DHAKA, Mar 09, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) have demanded the payment of salaries along with bonuses for the current month and the announcement of a five-day holiday for newspapers on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

BFUJ President Obaidur Rahman Shaheen and General Secretary Kader Gani Chowdhury, DUJ President Md. Shahidul Islam and General Secretary Khurshid Alam in a joint statement made this demand today.

In the statement, the journalist leaders said, Eid holidays are approaching. Many establishments have not yet paid the salaries and allowances of the working journalists. Many pay journalists a pittance, disregarding rules and regulations, and are now resorting to various excuses to avoid paying the salaries and bonuses according as per law. Yet, these establishments continue to enjoy all government facilities under the Wage Board Award."

The BFUJ and DUJ demanded immediate payment of salaries and bonuses to journalists. Otherwise, the unions will be forced to take a stance against those establishments to cancel their eligibility to get government facilities in future.

Meanwhile, the government has already announced a seven-day holiday for civil servants on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. However, the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), the organization of newspaper owners, is yet to make any specific announcement regarding holidays in newspapers. 

BFUJ and DUJ leaders demanded announcement of a minimum five-day holiday in newspapers similar to last year.