Bangladesh government will move for implementing the ninth wage board for journalists next week, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said today.

The “positive move” Quader spoke about in a programme at Jatiya Press Club is under “direct orders from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina”.

Journalists have been demanding 9th wage board for about a year now. They say, it is for creating a balance after the government doubled the salary of civil servants.

The government has said it is in favour of implementing the new wage board. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has blamed the media owners to be standing in the way.

Obaidul Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, was speaking at a programme organised to herald the recognition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s March 7 speech.