Journalist leaders in Dhaka on Sunday demanded of the government to announce the Ninth Wage Board for enhancing their salaries and other facilities.

They demand the wage board as their economic condition became intolerable due to price hike of essential items and continuous increase of house rent after declaration of new pay-scale for the government officers and employees.

During a May Day discussion at union office in Jatiya Press Club, journalists' leaders said that the government officials and journalists had been enjoying almost same facilities regarding salaries and other benefits for long.

But they regretted that after announcement of last pay-scale, the journalist community has gone far behind in terms of salaries and benefits than the government officials.

"The issue is also disgraceful for journalists in respect of social status", the leaders said and added that they serve the nation through their services in the media not for mere bread and butter rather for social dignity also.

Prime Minister Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury addressed the function as chief guest and secretary general of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Omar Faruque spoke as special guest in the meeting.

Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) organised the discussion with its president Shaban Mahmud in the chair.

Former BFUJ secretary general Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, former general secretary of Jatiya Press Club Swapan Saha, ex-DUJ president Kazi Rafique, DUJ general secretary Sohel Haider Chowdhury, former general secretary Quddus Afrad, BFUJ joint secretary general Amyia Ghatak Pulack, DUJ vice president Atiqur Rahman Chowdhury, journalist leaders Shahana Sheuly, Akter Hossain, Mrinal Chackraborty, Siddiqur Rahman, Mofizur Rahman Khan Babu, Murtoza Haider Liton and Manjushree Bishwas, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Highlighting the significance of the day, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury recalled the glorious days of the community when the union was united.

He called upon all the journalists to be united to realize their demands including the ninth wage board, according to a news agency report.

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Source: The Financial Express