Information Minister Hasan Mahmud. File photo

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday assured that the new wage board award for newspaper and news agency journalists and employees would be announced within specified period.

“From today, I will begin work for the gazette on the 9th Wage Board Award,” the minister said while exchanging views with leaders of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at Jatiya Press Club.

The minister said he also discussed the journalists' housing issue with the officials concerned.

Mahmud said, “My top priorities are to work for the welfare of newsmen and freedom of media.”

The minister made the remarks as he visited the press club for his maiden interaction with leaders of the journalist unions since he assumed office on January 8.

He sought journalists' support in discharging his responsibilities.

Mahmud expressed the hope that the journalist community would take necessary steps against yellow journalism.

“I think most of the journalists

try to practise objective journalism… Only few of them are involved in yellow journalism,” he said.

“Everyone has the right to criticise the works of the government. But, we expect the criticism to be constructive so that the state doesn't suffer,” he added.

Mahmud said his ministry would work for Media Employees (Condition of Services) Act and assured the journalists of looking into their concerns regarding the Digital Security Act.

BFUJ President Molla Jalal, Secretary General Saban Mahmud, among others, addressed the meeting.