The Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) has demanded a five-day holiday for newspapers and media personnel on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.
BSRF President Masudul Hoque and General Secretary Ubaidullah Badal made the demand in a statement on Sunday.
The statement said that government officials and employees will enjoy a long holiday this Eid, starting March 17 and continuing for seven days until March 23. However, only a three-day holiday is currently allocated for newspapers, which BSRF described as discriminatory.
They also pointed out that newspaper hawkers will not sell papers during the Eid holiday. The forum urged the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) to keep newspapers closed for five days during the festive period.