Boishakhi TV faces setback

Dhaka, Sept 11 (bdnews24.com) – Satellite television channel Boishakhi suffered a major setback Monday when at least 40 journalists resigned to protest non-payment of promised pay and perks. The channel, now on test run, was scheduled for a formal launch soon. Speaking to bdnews24.com, several reporters said that they resigned because the authorities had planned to launch the station without ensuring their benefit package. The journalists included news editors and reporters. But a top Boishakhi official gave a different version of events. "They do not have the right to resign because they were on probation," Managing Director Mohammad Shahidullah retorted, replying to a bdnews24.com query Monday night. He however admitted some of the staff had been discharged. Shahidullah claimed that the channel did not even employ so many journalists and that their statements about benefit package were not true. "As they could not perform their duties during their probation period, the authorities decided to dismiss them." He confirmed dismissal of two employees and said some others would have to go. bdnews24.com/2148 hrs