Demand for 8th Wage Board
SSKOP sit-in before info ministry May 27
Journalists and press workers and employees observe a six-hour hunger strike organised by Sangbadik Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad from 10:30am at Jatiya Press Club premises in the capital yesterday demanding formation of the 8th wage board.Photo: STAR
Leaders of journalists and press workers' and employees' associations yesterday declared to sit-in before the information ministry on May 27 demanding formation of the 8th wage board. “If our demand is not met by this time, we will hold the programme at 11:00am on that day,” said Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, co-convenor of Sangbadik Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SSKOP). He said this while announcing the end of a six-hour hunger strike, organised by SSKOP from 10:30am at Jatiya Press Club premises in the capital. Iqbal, also president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), warned of launching tougher movements if a gazette on the 8th wage board's formation is not issued immediately. “We want to realise our demand through peaceful and disciplined movements. If we fail, we will be compelled to announce tougher programmes like shutting down newspapers and news agencies,” he said. Seeking the prime minister's support in solving the crisis, he said, “The information minister is dilly-dallying over this issue. We want your (prime minister's) kind intervention to end the problem.” Another president of BFUJ and SSKOP Co-Convenor Ruhul Amin Gazi alleged that some people inside the journalist community are hatching a conspiracy to foil the movement by spreading different rumours. The wage of journalists and news workers should be consistent with the salary of government officials and employees, he said. BFUJ Secretary General Abdul Jalil Bhuyian, Dhaka Union of Journalists President Omar Faruk and General Secretary Saban Mahmud, Jatiya Press Club President Kamaluddin Sabuj and Bangladesh Newspaper Employees Federation President Matiur Rahman Talukder also spoke at the programme. On April 3 and 4, SSKOP had observed a countrywide six-hour work abstention over the demand. Journalists will also sit-in before the home ministry on May 15 demanding trial into the murder of journalist couple Sagar-Runi and security for journalists.
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