Remarks on Wage Board: Apologise or resign

Journalists at a protest rally yesterday demanded that Finance Minister AMA Muhith immediately withdraw his recent remarks over their pay.

They also sought an “unconditional apology” for his comments and demanded his resignation from the cabinet; otherwise they would wage a tougher movement.

The rally was organised by a faction of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) in front of Jatiya Press Club.

The journalists further demanded formation of the ninth wage board by August 15. They announced a fresh demonstration on August 16 if the government fails to meet the demand.

The finance minister on Wednesday said the salaries and allowances given in five categories in the newspaper industry were higher than that of the government employees.

He also said except for 15 to 20 newspapers, all the other dailies published from Dhaka were “bogus”.

Shaban Mahmud, DUJ president, said the minister has to withdraw his comments and make an “unconditional apology” within the next 72 hours.

He also said they will stage a two-hour demonstration on August 16 in front of the press club if the government does not meet the demand for the ninth wage board.

Shakhawat Hossain Badsha, president of Dhaka Reporters' Unity, and Omar Faruque, secretary general of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, also criticised the finance minister for his comments.

Amio Ghatak Pulak, BFUJ joint secretary general; Sohel Haider, DUJ general secretary; and journalist Wahiduzzaman Mia of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha also spoke.