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

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists on Saturday welcomed Information Minister Hasan Mahmud's insistence on ad-free (clean-feed) broadcasting of foreign TV channels. No foreign channel has actually responded yet though by freeing up their broadcast in Bangladesh of advertisements catering to foreign markets. Instead they all simply remain off air in Bangladesh, after cable and DTH box operators fell in line with a directive from Mahmud's ministry to stop broadcast of foreign channels that do not provide a clean feed in Bangladesh. In two separate statements on Saturday, BFUJ President Mollah Jalal, Secretary General Abdul Majid and DUJ President Quddus Afrad and General Secretary Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu said the country's economy, artists, culture and media industry have been affected for a long time due to non-broadcasting of ad-free or clean feed on foreign TV channels. Read: 'Clean feed' may lead to foreign channels' ad slots catering to local market The country is being deprived of investment worth at least two thousand crore Tk as a result, added the journalist leaders. The financial crisis in the domestic television industry will be reduced to a great extent because of implementing clean feed, they said,. Their reasoning was not explained. The statements also said that the decision to not broadcast foreign TV channels did not come from the government but from cable operators. Thanking the information and broadcasting minister for implementing clean feed, the journalist leaders demanded announcement of a wage board for broadcast journalists.Strong steps should be taken to ensure fair salaries and job security for everyone related with the journalism profession, the statements read.

A group of pro-BNP journalists on Saturday demanded the government take necessary steps to ensure advanced treatment for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia abroad. The demand was made in a statement signed by 1,557 journalists from across the country. Dhaka Union of Journalist (DUJ) president Kader Gani Chowdhury issued the statement. “Begum Khaleda Zia's physical condition is currently at high risk. Under such a situation, there shouldn’t be any politics over her treatment,” the statement said. As a top politician in the country, a former prime minister, a senior citizen, a woman and as a prisoner, they think Khaleda has the minimum human rights to receive proper and advanced treatment. “It’s our responsibility as a nation to ensure her fundamental rights and justice. So, we sincerely call upon the government to allow Khaleda Zia to receive advanced treatment abroad through freeing her on bail by the court,” the statement added. Also read: BNP seeks govt’s prompt steps to send Khaleda abroad The journalists hoped that the government will show sympathy towards Khaleda rising above politics considering her overall contributions to the country as a patriotic politician and the difficult period of her old age. They said people will take it positively if the government takes steps for removing the barriers towards sending Khaleda abroad for treatment. The signatories to the statement include senior journalists Reaz Uddin Ahmed, Alamgir Mohiuddin, Aman Ullah, Abul Asad, Shawkat Mahmud, Rezwan Siddiqui, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Salahuddin Mohammad Babar, Syed Mejbah Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Hai Sikder, Ershad Majumder, Kamal Uddin Sabuj, Syed Abdal Ahmed, Masumur Rahman Khalili, Aminur Rahman Sarkar, M Abdullah, Nurul Amin Rokon, MA Aziz, Quader Gani Chowdhury, Ilias Khan, Shakhawat Hossain Badshah, Rafiqul Islam Azad, Kazi Rawnak Hossain, Bakhtiar Rana, Nuruddin Ahmed, Mahmuda Chowdhury, Nirmal Chakraborty and Khurshid Alam. On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications. Also read: Govt turns down family’s application to send Khaleda abroad BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir at a recent press conference said Khaleda has a heart problem and her kidney and liver complications are very critical and she needs treatment at an advanced centre abroad. Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment, but it was turned down. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.

Expressing concern over the recent statement of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and the Dhakaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) on Saturday said the statement came as part of deep conspiracy to create ‘utter anarchy’ in the newspaper industry.

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.

The Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) on Saturday launched round-the-clock ambulance service for its members amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) has expressed grave concern over the summoning of at least 10 journalists by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) after reports on a senior police officer's immoral activities were published.

Dhaka Journalist Union (DUJ) demonstrated on Monday protesting frequent sackings of journalists from different news media and demanding clearance of their dues (salary and Eid-ul-Fitr allowance).

Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) on Sunday urged the owners of all media outlets to provide the journalists with salaries and Eid bonuses by Ramandan 26 (May 20).

Leaders of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) on Wednesday said the management of Dainik Shomoyer Alo cannot escape the liability of the death of its newsman.