Rangpur: Journalists' leaders in Rangpur have called for immediate acceptance and implementation of their 21-point demands, including financial and workplace security and the establishment of a free media. They made the call from an hour-long human chain organized by the Rangpur Union of Journalists (RpUJ) at the Press Club premises in the city on Saturday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, more than 200 media workers from eight upazilas and Rangpur metropolis participated in the event, despite the rain. RpUJ President Salequzzaman Salek presided over the event, which was moderated by its General Secretary Sarkar Mazharul Mannan.
Leaders of various press and journalists' organizations from Rangpur metropolis and surrounding upazilas expressed solidarity in the human chain programme. These included the Rangpur Press Club, City Press Club, Reporters' Club, Reporters' Unity, Bangladesh Photo Journalists' Association, Television Camera Journalists' Association, Begum Rokeya University Journalists' Association, Online Journalists' Association, and the National Journalists' Association.
During the event, the journalists' leaders emphasized the urgency of implementing the 21-point demands. These demands include the enforcement of the 'No Wage Board, No Media' policy for financial and workplace security, setting a minimum salary for journalists at Taka 35,000, implementing the ninth wage board for media, and forming the tenth wage board. Other demands involve formulating a journalist protection policy, establishing a two-day weekly holiday for journalists, ensuring the trial of the murder of journalist couple Sagar-Runi, abolishing anti-liberation media laws, establishing a separate labor court for journalists' dues, forming a common wage board for various media, and reducing the corporate tax rate on newspapers.
The event also saw solidarity from individuals like the former convener of the Rangpur District Committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Imran Hossain, and Red July President and NCP leader Sheikh Rezwan. The journalists' leaders warned that if their demands are not met, they would organize a Long March to Jamuna programme, with participation from Rangpur journalists.
Journalists from various print, electronic, online, and multimedia outlets working in Rangpur took part in the human chain.