Dhaka: Journalist leaders today demanded immediate formation of the 10th Wage Board and declaration of an interim dearness allowance for media workers and newspaper employees. They made the demand at a rally organised by the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) in front of the Jatiya Press Club here.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BFUJ Secretary General Muhammed Kader Gani Chowdhury addressed the rally as the chief guest, while DUJ President Md Shahidul Islam presided. DUJ Joint General Secretary Didarul Alam Didar conducted the programme. The speakers highlighted that journalists are facing a financial crisis amid rising prices of essential commodities and increasing living costs.
They pointed out that many media outlets have yet to implement the Ninth Wage Board Award, announced in 2019, citing legal and administrative complications. They also criticized the delay in forming an implementation committee for a new Wage Board despite repeated demands.
BFUJ Secretary General emphasized that the government has recently increased salaries of government employees by 100 to 142 percent, and journalists should receive a similar adjustment through the immediate announcement and implementation of the 10th Wage Board. He noted that journalists are struggling to meet rising expenses as prices of electricity, fuel, rice, lentils, flour, vegetables, clothing and other essentials have increased significantly.
The BFUJ leader urged the Prime Minister and the Ministries of Information and Finance to announce the 10th Wage Board without delay. He also called upon media owners to ensure payment of salaries according to the Wage Board. Referring to the 39-point demand placed by BFUJ and DUJ, he stressed that "No Wage Board, No Media" was their foremost demand.
DUJ General Secretary Khurshid Alam, Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) President Abu Saleh Akon, former DRU President Mursalin Nomani and other journalist leaders addressed the rally, warning that journalists would take to the streets to secure their rights if media owners continued to violate Wage Board provisions.