Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan on Monday nominated State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury as the new Chairman of the Board of the Journalists Welfare Trust at the 39th board meeting. Additionally, to make the Trust’s assistance programmes more organised and transparent, the minister instructed the creation of a comprehensive database of benefit seekers and recipients.
The minister issued these directives while speaking at the 39th board meeting of the Trust held at Circuit House Road in Dhaka. Present on the occasion, along with other members, were Information and Broadcasting State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury, Trust Vice Chairman Secretary Mahbuba Farjana, member Chief Information Officer Md Nizamul Kabir, and member Director General of the Press Institute of Bangladesh Faruq Wasif.
Member Secretary and Managing Director of the Trust, Muhammad Abdullah, briefed the newly appointed Minister and State Minister about various information, challenges, and future plans of the Trust’s activities.
The Minister stated that, in accordance with BNP’s election pledge, initiatives will be taken regarding the provision of retirement benefits for journalists. Furthermore, in response to demands from board members, he announced that special medical arrangements for journalists would be established at major government hospitals to ensure proper treatment for journalists.
Muhammad Abdullah requested taking measures to exempt the Trust’s funds deposited in banks from duties according to rules to overcome the Trust’s financial crisis. He also sought the Ministry’s cooperation regarding matters such as recruitment of Trust personnel, provision of vehicle facilities, and construction of a own building for the Trust.
After the meeting, the Information and Broadcasting minister and state minister distributed education scholarship checks to 402 meritorious children from journalist families at the Information Building auditorium, an initiative of the Journalists Welfare Trust.
Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said, “The main strength behind all our country’s important achievements is the people and the media. The media has strengthened public aspirations by cooperating with and providing moral support to the mass uprising in the nation’s time of need.” He further stated, “The main strength of the media is the database. Information is created from data. Our task will be to provide unrestricted information to the people. This flow of information cannot be ensured without journalists. Therefore, journalists will remain at the center of this Ministry’s focus.”
At this time, State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury announced the construction of a Press Club complex in his own constituency as promised and the formation of a fund for journalist welfare. The state minister also expressed gratitude to the concerned media workers for their objective and courageous journalism during the July 24 mass uprising. He congratulated the meritorious children from journalist families present.
In her speech, Secretary Mahbuba Farjana assured everyone that administrative and financial approval for providing monthly allowances to veteran journalists would be resolved quickly.
