Scrap section 57, form wage board for journos
Journalists yesterday issued a 12-day ultimatum to Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu to form the ninth wage board for them, or else they threatened to besiege the secretariat on July 30 demanding resignation of the minister.
They issued the ultimatum from a rally organised by Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The speakers at the rally demanded that the government immediately scrap the controversial section 57 of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) act to ensure freedom of the press. They also called upon the government to transfer all cases, filed against journalists across the country under section 57, to Bangladesh Press Council until the government takes final decision about the fate of the section by August.
Addressing as the chief guest, Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, president of a faction of BFUJ, said, “Earlier, you [information minister] assured us of forming the wage board soon. But you didn't keep your promise. Journalist community is giving you 12 days to think…”
“If our just demand is not met within July 29, journalists will hold a grand rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club on July 30 and will march towards the secretariat demanding your resignation,” said Bulbul.
“Autocratic ruler HM Ershad couldn't remain in power as he acted against journalists…information ministers also had to resign in the past as they acted against journalists. You will have to accept the same fate if you do not form the ninth wage board within the stipulated time.”
The BFUJ boss said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently in a journalist rally had expressed her support to form the wage board. “But instead of taking measures to form the wage board, the information minister is serving interest of the vested quarters.”
BFUJ Secretary General Omar Faruq, former BFUJ secretary general Abdul Jalil Bhuyian, DUJ President Shaban Mahmud, and Secretary General Sohel Haider Chowdhury, among others, spoke.
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