Necessary steps will be taken to roll out the gazette of ninth wage board for journalists by Jan 28, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud.

“Necessary steps will be taken to publish ninth wage board gazette for journalists in line with Awami League’s polls manifesto pledges,” he said on Monday (Jan 14) while exchanging views with Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) leaders at the National Press Club in the capital.

The information minister said, “The gazette must be done by Jan 28. In the meantime, we will discuss all the necessary aspects to finalize it.”

Terming the prime minister as journalist-friendly, Mahmud said, “Even The journalists, who have written against the Awami League their entire career, received help from the prime minister in times of need. They will continue to get such help.”

On assuming the role of the information ministry, he said, “I think my main task will be to work for the welfare of the journalist friends. A number of really good media outlets, both in the print and electronic platform, are on the verge of shutting down. We will discuss how the state can help them recover.”

“We are discussing to prevent good media outlets going out of business,” added Mahmud.

Urging the mass media workers role in preventing yellow journalism he said, “All journalists strive to present objective news to the readers and because of one or two the entire community cannot be blamed. That’s why I believe that the journalist unions’ responsibility is no less than ours.” 

“If Journalism, the fourth estate, doesn’t contribute in the country’s development, the state suffers,” he said before adding, “Our main goal is to work together, will all of you.”