New wage board for journalists ‘soon’

Prime Minister’s media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury yesterday 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, reports BSS from Chittagong. “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’s 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”.

New wage board for journalists soon

Prime Ministers media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury yesterday 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, reports BSS from Chittagong. 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 Bangabandhus daughter Sheikh Hasinas 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 Employees 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 countrys image and continue advancement. The premiers 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.