Journalists' Welfare Trust Bill passed

The House has passed the Bangladesh Journalists' Welfare Trust Bill-2014.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu put up the bill in Parliament on Tuesday, which was passed by voice vote.

On Apr 2, Inu had presented the bill in the House.

It seeks to ensure welfare for journalist who are insolvent, sick or wounded and also support  family members of media persons who have died.

It was then forwarded to the parliamentary standing committee of the information ministry for further scrutiny.

According to the bill, a 13-member board of trustees would be formed with information minister as the chairman of the board.

The trust will be a statutory body and its managing director, to be appointed by the government, would act as member secretary .

The other members of the trust are Principal Information Officer (PIO), a Director General level official nominated by the Prime Ministers' Office, a finance division officer with the rank and status of not below a joint secretary, director general of Bangladesh Press Institute, joint secretary (Press) from the Ministry of Information, two BFUJ representatives and three journalists to be nominated by the government.