Dhaka: The Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) has put forward a demand for a five-day holiday for newspapers and media personnel in light of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. The request was made by BSRF President Masudul Hoque and General Secretary Ubaidullah Badal in a statement released on Sunday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the statement highlighted the disparity between the holiday allocation for government officials and media personnel. Government employees are set to enjoy a seven-day break starting from March 17 to March 23, while newspapers are currently only given a three-day holiday. BSRF labeled this allocation as discriminatory towards media personnel.
The BSRF also noted that newspaper hawkers traditionally refrain from selling papers during the Eid holiday. In light of this, the forum urged the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) to consider closing newspapers for five days to ensure media workers can adequately celebrate the festive period.