Journalist Welfare Trust is proof of government's willingness to protect journalists: Minister of State for Information

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Arafat said that the Journalism Welfare Trust is proof of the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the protection of journalists.

The State Minister made this comment at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust in the meeting room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the Secretariat on Sunday (June 9). The Minister of State for Information presided over the meeting as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Mohammad Ali Arafat said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina believes in the expansion and freedom of the media as well as the welfare and protection of journalists. As the mass media has expanded in the last 15 years, various initiatives have been taken for the welfare of journalists. In 2014, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina established the Journalists Welfare Trust by enacting the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust Act. The formation of this trust proves that the government under his leadership is journalist-friendly.

He said that the Journalist Welfare Trust is regularly providing welfare grants in favor of distressed, indigent, accident-injured journalists and the families of deceased journalists. In the third and last phase of the current financial year, a grant of 2 crore 8 lakh rupees is being given. Scholarship program for the education of meritorious children of journalists is also under process from this trust. These activities are an expression of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government's commitment to the protection and welfare of journalists.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust. Humajun Kabir Khondkar, Managing Director of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust and Member Secretary of Trustee Board Subhash Chandra (Badal), Director General and Trustee Board Member of Press Institute Bangladesh Zafar Wazed, Chief Information Officer and Trustee Board Member of Information Department. Shahenur Miah, Finance Ministry Joint Secretary and Trustee Board Member Mohammad Sadekur Rahman, Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union President and Trustee Board Member Omar Farooq, Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union Secretary General and Trustee Board Member Deep Azad, Daily News Managing Editor and Trustee Board Member Kashem Humayun. , Dhaka Journalist Union President and Trustee Board Member Sohel Haider Chowdhury and Bangladesh News Agency Chittagong Bureau Chief and Trustee Board Member Kalim Sarwar were present in the meeting.