Journalists threaten Information Minister Inu with boycott over wage board delay

Journalists have threatened to hit Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu with a boycott if their demand for the ninth wage board is not met by Aug 15.

Leaders of different associations of journalists staged a demonstration in front of the Secretariat on Sunday to press for their demand.

“We will approach the prime minister in case Minister Inu fails to meet our deadline,” said Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists or BFUJ.

“He (Inu) will not be allowed to enter the National Press Club or the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.”

“No newspaper will publish any news of the information ministry anymore. You (Inu) will not be allowed to attend any programme of journalists then,” he went on saying.

Journalists have long been demanding formation of the ninth wage board to which Inu recently said the board could not be formed as the owners were yet to forward names of representatives.

Inu’s statement triggered anger among journalists.

Nasimun Ara Haque Minu, president, Centre of Women Journalists, pointed out that government officers have got a pay hike but not journalists.

The demonstrators also wanted cancellation of Section 57 of the ICT Act.

Section-57 is a blow to the freedom of expression and ruining the government’s image, Minu said.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has amended section 501, 502 and 534 of the penal code. She said journalists could not be arrested. On the contrary, the information minister wants to retain the Section 57,” she said.

Offences under Section 57 include electronic posts containing information that defame an individual or the state and cause deterioration of law or hurt religious belief. They are punishable with jail term from seven to 14 years.

“We are not against the government or the prime minister. We only want to expose the minister who is embarrassing the prime minister,” Minu Said. 

Leaders of the Dhaka Union of Journalists, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity and BFUJ spoke at the demonstration.