Journalists seek amendment to draft mass media law

Leaders of several platforms of journalist on Thursday handed over a set of proposals to amend the draft of Mass Media Employees Act (services condition) to Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and Secretary of the ministry Md Mokbul Hossain.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) president Omar Faruque, secretary general Dip Azad, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) president Sohel Haider Chowdhury, general secretary Akther Hossain, Dhaka Reporters Unity president Nazrul Islam Mithu, Television Camera Journalists Association President Mahbub Alam, general secretary Shahidul Haque Jiban, Dhaka Sub-Editors Council general secretary Abul Hasan and Barishal Journalists Union president Swapan Khandakar handed over the draft to the minister and the secretary at the ministry.

The ministry will send the proposal to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

The journalist leaders also demanded determining the exact circulation of newspapers, proper scrutiny while providing accreditation card of PID to journalists and implement of the ninth wage board award soon after amending it.

Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, gave assurance to the journalists to take actions regarding the demands after review.

Hasan Mahmud placed the bill in parliament on March 28 and it was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry for scrutiny.