Journos threaten hunger strike, chain of demo

A group of journalists has threatened of hunger strike and subsequently a series of demonstrations in demand for a new pay scale, the ninth wage board.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists called for a hunger strike September 20 and protest programmes every day from September 24 for the demand.

It will be a day-long hunger strike in front of Jatiya Press Club, said Omar Faruq, secretary general of the BFUJ, reading out a written statement in a press conference.

From September 24 onwards, the journalists will demonstrate every day in front of the secretariat, he said in the press conference arranged at Jatiya Press Club.

Also, the journalists announced to exclude Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu from their programmes as a show of protest against the minister.

“The government has an alternative way to form a wage board even if the media owners do not name their choice,” said Shaban Mahmud, president of DUJ.

The speakers also criticised the delay in inclusion of electronic media in the wage board and Finance Minister AMA Muhith’s comments on the wages of journalists.

Bulbul Ahmed, president of BFUJ, and Sohel Haider Chowdhury, secretary of DUJ, also spoke on the occasion.