No new act is being adopted for journalists: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud Wednesday said no new act is being adopted for journalists. The minister stated this while replying to a query of journalists at the meeting room of his ministry at Secretariat in the capital.

Earlier, Hasan exchanged views with the leaders of journalists’ apex body Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ).

The BFUJ leaders demanded the cancelation of all government facilities including newsprint quota, identity cards, ads and supplementary of those news outlets which are not implementing the ninth wage board award.

Replying to a query over a comment of Press Council chairman, Hasan said most of the members of the council are journalists and editors and they had proposed to amend the council act of 1974 to strengthen it. The proposal is in process till now and no new act is being adopted for the journalists, he added.

He said many persons of unregistered online portals, IP TV and even employees of YouTube channels introduced themselves as journalists and some of them employed district correspondents. Even, they take money from those correspondents and some deceives common people in the name of journalists, he added.

But, he said, the reality is that the genuine journalists are being hampered due to them. For this, discussions were held with the Press Council and the Press Institute to make lists of working journalists in registered mass media, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

Earlier, BFUJ President Omar Faruque, former president Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul, secretary general Dip Azad, treasurer Khairuzzaman Kamal and executive members Dr Utpal Kumar Sarker, Nure Jannat Akther Shima, Ummul Wala Sweety and Angur Nahar Monti handed over letter of five-point demands.

The demands included implementation of the ninth wage board award in TV and online portals along with newspapers after amendment, cancellation of all government facilities including newsprint quota, accreditation cards, ad and supplementary of those newspapers which would not implement the ninth wage board award, determining the exact circulation of newspapers, the delegate the power of declaration from DC office to Information and Broadcasting Ministry and ensuring of involvement of BFUJ in legislation on media.

Dip Azad presented the demands while Omar Faruque and Manzurul addressed the meeting, among others.

The minister assured them of looking into the demands.

Replying to another query over the Cumilla City Corporation polls, Hasan said the election is being held in a very peaceful and enthusiastic environment and no untoward incident took place in the polls.

The minister hoped that the polls will be held in a joyous environment.