DRU urged to lead wage board push
Chief reporters from national newspapers, news agencies and online media outlets have urged Dhaka Reporters’ Unity to take a stronger role in securing implementation of the long-pending wage board and shaping a formal registration system for journalists.
They made the call at a discussion held at DRU’s Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium on Sunday, with DRU President Abu Saleh Akon in the chair and General Secretary Mainul Hassan Sohel moderating.
The journalists said salaries and professional security remained among the most pressing concerns in the media industry.
M Abdullah of Amar Desh demanded an urgent pay scale for journalists aligned with the government’s revised salary structure for public servants. He said journalists’ salaries had not been revised since 2013 and the ninth wage board remained largely unimplemented.
He also called for pensions and free medical services for journalists through the welfare trust linked to the Bangladesh Press Council.
Noimuddin of Rising BD proposed a uniform wage board covering print, television and online journalists, while Shahidul Islam Khan of Ajker Patrika reiterated the demand for a two-day weekly holiday.
The meeting also discussed the government’s plan to introduce a formal registration system for journalists through amendments to the Press Council Act, 1974.
Several speakers said DRU, as one of the country’s largest organisations of working journalists, should be directly involved in designing and implementing such a system rather than leaving it solely to the government.
They also called for reforms to ensure that any registration mechanism protects professional standards without undermining press freedom.
Mosiur Rahman Khan of Samakal urged DRU to remain free from political influence, while Rajib Hossain of BSS English stressed the importance of preserving the organisation’s non-partisan character.
Abul Kashem of The Business Standard called for a more assertive role by DRU in protecting journalists’ dignity and seeking government support for the organisation.
Speakers also emphasised regular specialised training for young journalists in areas including artificial intelligence, data journalism, investigative reporting, multimedia production and digital security.
Mainul Hassan Sohel said the current DRU committee was working on several long-term initiatives, including a training institute, a health corner, a modern mosque complex and new sources of self-financing.
DRU IT and Training Secretary Mahmud Sohel said the proposed training institute would offer courses in English, information technology, artificial intelligence, Chinese and other skills for members and their children.
DRU President Abu Saleh Akon said the organisation would continue working to protect journalists’ rights, professional safety and social security.
He identified job insecurity, low pay, legal harassment and inadequate workplace protection as major challenges facing journalists.
DRU office-bearers, executive committee members and chief reporters from different media organisations attended the meeting.
