City Desk :
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday hoped that the Mass Media Employees (services conditions) Bill will be placed in the upcoming winter session of the Jatiya Sangsad.
“The law minister has already signed the draft of the Mass Media Employees Bill. I hope we will be able to place the bill in the upcoming winter session of the Jatiya Sangsad. It will be possible to provide legal protection to all journalists of broadcast media, if the bill is passed,” he said.
The minister said these, addressing the biennial conference of Chattogram Bibhagh Sangbadik Forum (CBSF), Dhaka at the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) in the city, reports BSS.
Hasan said mass media should praise the good works of the government alongside criticisms. “The government will be criticized . . . There would be criticisms if any responsible person makes a mistake. But the criticism should not be like that which will create the possibility of seizing power by those who patronize the communal evil forces. For this, we should remain alert,” he added.
The minister said there was a demand on behalf of journalists to determine the eligibility and criteria to become a journalist. “I personally think that it is not appropriate to determine any degree here. In many cases, a journalist with SSC writes wells compared to master’s degree holders. But now anyone is showing their identities as a journalist and number of fake journalists is much higher than the real ones at upazila levels. I asked the Press Council to make criteria to bring discipline in this regard,” he added.
He said it was mentioned in the Wage Board that group insurance for journalists and employees will have to be made in every media house. But it did not happen, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
