Wage board for print, electronic media to be declared soon: Iqbal

Prime Minister’s media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury today said the wage board for print and electronic media was expected to be declared soon as he joined an interaction with newsmen at the port city.

“Different stakeholders nominated their representatives for the wage board committee . . . the 9th wage board will be declared soon removing anomalies in the eighth wage board,” he told the view-exchange meeting with the journalists at Chittagong Press Club (CPC).

The present government, he said, under Bangabandhu daughter Sheikh Hasina’s premiership would also formulate a new policy for print, electronic and online media for development of the industry after discussion with all stakeholders.

“The government has also taken initiative to amend the Newspaper Employee’s Service Condition Act 1974 to be passed in parliament,” Chowdhury said.

He urged the journalists to work with responsibility to strengthen democracy foiling plots and combating militancy to uphold the country’s image and continue advancement.

The premier’s adviser said those who did not want the independence of the country are now hatching conspiracies by assisting militancy to take the country backward.

“As professional journalists we have an obligation in this regard and we should work to uphold our dignity by writing against militancy,” he said.

Chowdhury said professional ethics requires a journalist to be neutral but, “We cannot remain neutral and impartial on the questions of existence and basic principles of the state, sovereignty, spirit and ideals of the Liberation War, secularism, democracy, and development.”

He said there could be differences of opinions among journalists as a group but whenever there is a national issue, “We should work together”.

Terming the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as journalist-friendly, he said it is the only government which formed the Journalist Welfare Trust.

CPC President Kalim Sarwar presided over the discussion joined by CUJ President Reaz Haidar Chowdhury, President of Chittagong Journalist Samabai Samity Mainuddin Kaderi Shawkat, Ex-CUJ President Mostaq Ahmed, CPC leaders Helal Uddin Chowdhury, Asif Serij, Chowdhury Farid, Shahidulla Shahriar, CUJ leader Nirupom Das Gupto and CPC Secretary Suklal Das.

Source: BSS