Z A M Khairuzzaman :
Presently, Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust (BJWT) has emerged as a blessing for insolvent journalists. Of late, the trust gifts consisting of essential items, including dates and soybean oil, were distributed among around 300 journalists as special Ramadan gifts on the Jatiya Press Club premises. Such a move is the first of its kind in the history of the country. The recipients of the gifts were virtually surprised to receive the rare gifts. The gifts brought great relief for them in the month of Ramadan when prices of essentials skyrocket.
In another rare move, stipends were distributed at the aegis of the welfare trust among the sons and daughters of journalists who study in schools, colleges and universities. Education of the dependents of journalists became smooth enough getting the stipends which is also the first of its kind in Bangladesh.
If we go back further, we are delighted to mention another record of providing financial assistance to 350 insolvent journalists and their families on behalf of BJWT within the shortest possible time in the country’s history! In that event held in the auditorium of the capital’s Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) on 30 October, 2024, the then Adviser for Information and Broadcasting of the Interim Government, Md Nahid Islam, shared the sufferings of the insolvent journalists and their families by distributing cheques among them, many of whom remained jobless for long due to the step-motherly attitude of the fascist government.
sts who have fallen in financial crisis due to prolonged joblessness due to the While addressing the event as the chief guest, Nahid Islam, who later resigned from Muhammad Yunus’ interim government, to lead the country’s new youth-led political party, National Citizen Party (NCP), stated that BJWT will remain beside the families of martyred journalists who sacrificed their lives and the wounded ones who sustained injuries during the anti-discrimination movement led by young students. “The martyrs of the movement and the wounded will be honoured on behalf of the government,” he declared.
Muhammad Abdullah, the Managing Director of BJWT presided over the entire event where cheques amounting to Tk 2 crore 37 lakh was distributed among the needy journalists. Thanks to the BJWT MD for his dynamic leadership. It is because of his initiative, the trust money was disbursed among the recipients within the shortest possible time.
Earlier, the BJWT was used as a tool to serve the interest of the fascist government. Journalists loyal to the anti-people government were immensely benefited by the money of the Trust fund. According to the witnesses, the solvent beneficiaries even used to go to the venue of cheque-distribution ceremony at the then fascist prime minister’s office in Tejgaon area by driving their own cars.
And, they used to come back to the Press Club at Topkhana Road by driving the same cars. In this manner, the money of the state coffer was misused at random depriving the genuine journalists who remained jobless and unfed or half-fed for a long period due to acute financial hardship.
Believe it or not, during the fascist rule, a large number of journalists, who became jobless due to the previous government’s injustice and discrimination, were deprived of any kind of financial assistance from the state-owned Trust despite proper recommendations from the respective journalists’ union. Their submitted forms were cruelly turned down by the then looters of the Trust fund. It is widely alleged that the Trust money was illegally distributed among the wealthy journalists in exchange for bribes! What a cruel joke indeed!
The Interim Government led by Nobel laureate and Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus is a journalist-friendly administration. It has been relentlessly working for upholding the dignity of journalists by recognising their immense contributions towards the nation.
Finally, another important issue that is worth-mentioning. It is well-known that journalists lead a sub-human life, especially after their retirement as they do not get any retirement benefit or pension like that of government servants. The sons and daughters of retired or jobless journalists bear the brunt of this situation.
In most cases, they are compelled to discontinue their education despite being meritorious enough. However, a ray of hope is now visible on the other end of the tunnel as an assurance was given by Nahid during his tenure as the Information Adviser that financial assistance in the form of pension will be introduced for the elderly journalists.
We remind Mahfuj Alam, the incumbent Information Adviser of the Interim Government about his predecessor’s assurance and urge him to take the necessary initiatives for its immediate implementation by introducing the pension scheme for journalists. It is the call of the hour!
Presently, the national election is heading fast.
We have learnt from press reports that Bangladesh polls might be held in the month of December of the ongoing year or the first part of the next year. If the pledge of the leader of the country’s new youth-led political party, National Citizen Party (NCP), is implemented, its outcome might go in favour of the NCP during the upcoming national election. The journalist community will remain ever-grateful to those who work for their welfare.
(The writer is a senior journalist and columnist. E-mail: zamkhairz@gmail.com)
