Govt working to protect journalists' rights, including wage board: State Minister

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasher Khan Chowdhury has said the government is working to protect journalists' rights, including defining who qualifies as a journalist, ensuring welfare and implementing a wage board.

He made these remarks at a consultation meeting on the Cyber Protection (Amendment) Act, 2026 at the Secretariat on Monday, September 28. A presentation was made at the meeting based on opinions from the previous meeting.

He said the definition of journalists and the media needs to be made clear so that genuine journalists are not deprived of their rightful benefits and so that people other than journalists cannot take advantage of the Journalists' Welfare Trust.

The State Minister for Information emphasised formulating an acceptable framework in this regard by discussing with relevant institutions and organisations on the wage board, professional rights and welfare of journalists.

He said alongside ensuring journalists' rights, it must also be ensured that the assistance of the Journalists' Welfare Trust reaches genuine journalists. In this regard, it is necessary to make clear who will be considered a journalist and who will not.

He proposed formulating a clear framework for the professional recognition of journalists. He called for specific suggestions from journalists' organisations on whether a system like the Bar Council could be introduced in this regard.

Speakers at the meeting included Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, Editor of Dainik Manabzamin Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, President of the National Press Club Hasan Hafiz, CEO of Ekushey Television Abdus Salam, CEO of Independent Television Mostafa Akmal, Dr Shakhawat Hossain Sayanta, Head of News of RTV Elias Hossain, former President of ERF Sharmin Rinvi, Executive Editor of Dainik Prothom Alo Sajjad Sharif, Deputy Editor of UNB Masud-ul-Haque and Managing Editor of Dainik Amar Desh Zahid Chowdhury, among others.