The Small and Medium Newspaper Industry Association of Bangladesh (SMNIB) held its monthly meeting on Saturday afternoon in Malibagh, focusing on the development, welfare, and recognition of newspapers as an industry.
The meeting was presided over by SMNIB President Mohammad Arfin and attended by Executive Director Kazi Anwar Kamal, Vice President Chowdhury Ataur Rahman, Director Sonia Parveen, and other officials.
Participants discussed challenges facing the country’s newspaper industry, including the reluctance of government departments to issue advertisements, delays in payment of outstanding bills, and pressures from various quarters. They called for specific measures to ensure non-discriminatory allocation of government ads, subsidies for newsprint and printing costs, professional security for journalists, and the regulation of unregistered digital media.
The meeting also emphasized providing skill-development training for journalists, introducing acceptable policies and reforms, and ensuring that advertisements are not placed in non-listed media outlets.
SMNIB urged the authorities to settle outstanding advertisement bills deposited with various government departments, including the Directorate of Film and Publications (DFP), to help newspapers overcome financial difficulties ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.