Bangladesh and Media

Dhaka, Dec 13 (UNB) - The government will actively consider forming a review committee for reappraisal of the just-declared 6th Wage Board Award for the media industry, if there be an application on behalf of journalists, press workers or employees.

“If any application is found, then the review committee will be formed comprising newspaper owners, journalists, press workers and other staff members,” said an official handout Thursday, in the wake of protests against some provisions for the pay package.

The government announced 6th Wage Board Award for journalists, press workers and employees on December 6 with new scales for their salary and other benefits.

But Sangbadik-Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SSKOP) has already rejected the Wage Board Award and observed four-hour work abstention on Wednesday, demanding its immediate revision.

Addressing a gathering in front of the National Press Club, the Parishad leaders also urged the government to accept the demands by December 16, failing which SSKOP would go for work abstention and wear black badge, form human chain on the street from December 17. They also threatened to launch a “greater movement”.

Media Report

Sangbadik Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SSKOP) on December 09 expressed its grief and disapproval over the gazette notification of the Sixth Wage Board, saying that it has curtailed salaries and other benefits of journalists and press workers.

SSKOP in an emergency meeting at the National Press Club called upon the caretaker government to declare an amended gazette notification soon, ensuring expected salaries and other benefits.

“Otherwise, journalists, press workers and employees will declare a greater movement,” said a SSKOP press release.

The meeting also expressed anguish over the government’s inaction in ending termination of jobs at the daily Ittefaq and reinstating jobs of those who had already been terminated. It also expressed grief over the government’s negligence in solving problems at Bangladesh Observer where the newspaper staff are not receiving their payments.

It was decided at the meeting that an extended meeting with the president and general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists, unit chiefs, deputy chiefs and senior journalists from different newspapers, leaders of three journalists’ federations and former leaders of the unions will be held at 11:00am on December 11 at the National Press Club.

The meeting called upon journalists, press workers and employees to join the SSKOP-declared programmes including a rally on December 12 at 11:00am at the National Press Club and work abstention from 10:00am to 2:00pm the same day.

Chaired by SSKOP Convenor Mozammel Haque, the meeting was attended by its leaders Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Ruhul Amin Gazi, Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, Altaf Mahmud, Azizul Haque Banna, Omar Faruk, Sardar Farid, Fazle Imam, Matiur Rahman Talukder, Abul Hashem and Khairul Islam.