Leaders of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Wednesday demanded the necessity to abolish the regressive tax system to eliminate the severe income inequality that has been created among the people in different countries of the world, including Bangladesh. The demand was from a rally organised by twelve civil society organisations led by Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD)  in front of the National Press Club in the capital in solidarity with the global civil society network Fight Inequality Alliance on the eve of the 54th Conference of the World Economic Forum with the slogan "Tax the rich, not the poor". Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Bangladesh Climate Journalists sorum, CPRD, Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement, Online Knowledge Society, ASOD, Water Keeper Bangladesh, Trinamool Development Organization, CSRL, JSKS and Coast Foundation participated in the rally. E-commerce business must be sustained to build Smart Bangladesh: DNCRP DG Mostafa Kamal Akand, Director of Coast Foundation, moderated the programme, while ASM Badrul Alam of Bangladesh Farmers Federation presided over the meeting. Several  recommendations were placed in the rally, including a balanced and fair tax system should be established through legislation and enforcement to prevent tax evasion.  Other recommendations included that research,investigation and other effective measures should be taken to prevent capital flight and profit repatriation. Besides, the tax burden on the poor and underprivileged should be eased by gradually reducing all types of indirect taxes, including VAT. Motahar Hossain, on behalf of the Bangladesh Climate Journalist Forum, said that through indirect tax, basically, one person is forced to pay the tax of the other. Common consumers typically pay taxes levied on a company. This increases the cost of living for poor people. On the other hand, the company that is making income is exempted from tax. This system needs to be changed, he added. Shoeb Chy made Chairman of FBCCI standing committee on press, media Syed Aminul Hoque, Secretary of EquityBD, said that the ongoing conference of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in fact, works for the multinational profiteering companies engaged in tax dodging and money laundering from poor countries. "In this context, we need a global tax network under the UN framework where poor countries can protect themselves against tax dodging, and thus, money laundering will also be stopped. We expect our Prime Minister to convey this message while participating in the 54th Annual Conference of WEF," he said. Imran Hossain of the CPRD said that tax evasion has become a normal practice in Bangladesh. "We have laws and penalties for this, but they are not enforced. Emphasis should be placed on income tax and wealth tax collection to reduce indirect taxes," he said.   Nikhil Chandra Bhadra of the Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement said that the people of Bangladesh fought the liberation war to abolish a discriminatory social system. But now, the disparity between the rich and the poor is the highest ever in the country’s history. This disparity can be reduced through an accountable and well-governed tax system. Pradip Kumar Roy of Online Knowledge Society said that Bangladesh has often been praised for standing up for poor people and less developed countries at international conferences. Cautionary monetary policy likely to stabilise forex reserve, contain Inflation: DCCI President "We want Bangladesh to become the voice against discrimination and poverty alleviation in the upcoming conference of the World Economic Forum," he said.  In the closing speech, ASM Badrul Alam of the Bangladesh Krishok Federation said that all indirect taxes, including VAT, should be gradually reduced to ease the tax burden on the poor, and emphasis should be placed on bringing all industrialists and corporations under direct tax to increase the government's revenue.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (November 02, 2023) urged the country’s journalists to expose the real face of the BNP before the international community as the opposition party’s activists swooped on the media persons who were covering their October 28 rally. “You, journalists, should expose internationally the real character of those who attacked you while performing duty,” she said. The premier was addressing the Delegates Conference-2023 of BFUJ-Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists at the National Press Club in the city. Noting that the anti-liberation forces have no right here in Bangladesh, she said, “Those who believe in terrorism and militancy have no right here. They don’t want the welfare of the people of this country and they are foes of the people.” The PM said the attackers of journalists and police must pay as some 30 journalists were injured in the attacks carried out by BNP men on October 28 last. Read more: Day 3 of blockade: 4 vehicles burnt in Dhaka, Narayanganj so far She said the BNP men carried out attacks even in disguise on that day, believing that they could remain unidentified and escape punishment. But they’ve finally been caught, she said. “They carried such misdeeds. Those who kill and attack journalists and police must face punishment,” she said. Hasina strongly condemned the way BNP attacked journalists and police. “Committing terrorist acts is their character,” she said. She also blasted different international organisations of journalists, including Reporters Without Borders for keeping silent over this attack. “Where are they now? We don’t see them and don’t hear any words from them. Where have they disappeared suddenly?” she said. The PM said some 30 journalists were injured and some have been receiving treatment in hospitals. “But we don’t hear anything from any of them,” she said. She compared the BNP’s attack on the police hospital here to the bombing on a Palestine hospital by Israel. They (BNP) carried out the attack on a hospital here the same way the Israel bombed a Palestine hospital and killed women and children. “I don’t know if they are taking lessons from the Jews,” said the prime minister. Talking about the 9th wage board for journalists, PM Hasina said it is the responsibility of the owners to implement it. It is very unfortunate that they filed a case instead of implementing it. She said the preparation continues to form the 10th wage board and the government has a plan to bring electronic media journalists under the wage board. She put emphasis on bringing the journalists who are working outside Dhaka under the coverage of the wage board. The premier announced to provide another amount of Tk 10 crore as donation to the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust. The fund was formed with the seed money provided by the prime minister. She assured the journalists working outside Dhaka of giving plots to them under district-based housing projects. Noting that there is a huge number of newspapers in Bangladesh, she said the number of newspapers is not so high even in many developed and rich countries. There are 3,241 newspapers in the country, she said. Turning to the development of Bangladesh, she said today’s Bangladesh has gained the status of a developing country thanks to the continuation of the democracy and the government from 2009-2023. Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud spoke as the special guest at the function chaired by BFUJ President Omar Faruque. BFUJ Secretary General Dip Azad conducted the event, while President of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Sohel Haider Chowdhury and leaders of different units of BFUJ spoke on the occasion. In the function, former BFUJ leaders were honoured with crests. Read more: EC letter inviting BNP’s jailed leader for talks on polls returns undelivered: Sources

Tapan Biswas of Dainik Janakantha has been elected as president, while Masudul Haque of UNB as general secretary of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF). The executive committee election for the 2021-22 term was held on Sunday at the National Press Club from 10 am to 3 pm, and the results were declared in the evening. Motahar Hossain was elected vice-chairman of the committee for the 2021-22 term. Of the 17 posts of the executive committee, voting was held for all except the training and research secretary post, for which Tauhidul Islam was elected unopposed. Besides Tapan and Masud, Mehedi Azad Masum was elected assistant general secretary, Akhtar Hossain organising secretary, Md Shafiullah Sumon finance secretary, Moskayet Mashreq office secretary and Bahram Khan publicity and publication secretary. The elected executive members of the committee are:  Ismail Hossain Russell, MA Jalil Munna (Munna Raihan), Mainul Hossain Pinnu, Shahjahan Mollah, Hanif Mahmud Shah, Shahadat Hossain (Rakib), Md Belal Hossain and Rubayet Hasan. Information Minister Hasan Mahmud congratulated all the newly elected members of the committee.

Auto-rickshaw drivers and light vehicle workers organised a human chain in front of the National Press Club on Thursday demanding food support and allowing their operation by ensuring health safety rules. Addressing a rally during the human chain organised by the Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF), the leaders of the organisation said that their members could not work during the lockdown. President of the BALTWF Abul Hossain presided over the rally. "This restriction ultimately put us in big trouble as we have become unemployed and our families will have to go hungry during Ramadan," said Golam Faruk, secretary of the BALTWF. He noted that the organisation had already appealed to different government offices for direct food and cash aid so that their families could survive. But this time no charitable person or organisation is coming forward to help the starving people while government assistance has not yet reached us, the leader said.

An emergency meeting expressing concern over the security of the National Press Club members was held on Monday.

At a time when people need credible information, coronavirus has upended Bangladesh’s media industry, hitting hard its revenue generation and claiming the lives of a good number of journalists and infecting many more.

Bangladesh Autorickshaw and Light Vehicles Transport Workers Federation (BALVTWF) on Saturday held a human chain and demonstrated in front of National Press Club demanding assistance from the government to survive the general holidays announced to prevent coronavirus outbreak.

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday urged the media to remain vigilant so that wrong information is not disseminated in the contest of publishing news before others.