Dhaka/

Planning Minister MA Mannan has expressed the opinion that there is a need for a wage board for security in the journalism profession.

He said, I myself have done government service. As we get security, you journalists don’t. Others go a long way with various shortcuts. But the lives of those who do mainstream journalism are tumultuous. I have seen many of my childhood journalist friends who have suffered a lot in Dhaka.

The minister said this at a memorial meeting organized in honor of cartoonist MA Quddus, senior vice-president of Dhaka Journalist Union, at the Manik Miah Auditorium of the National Press Club in the capital on Friday.

The meeting was organized by Rajbari District Journalist Association of Dhaka. Cartoonist Quddus was also the general secretary of the organization.

The meeting was presided over by Nur Alam Siddiqui Haque, President of Dhaka Rajbari District Journalist Association. The acting general secretary of the association Rimon Rahman managed it. Apart from this, joint secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Abdul Latif Molla, general secretary of Dhaka Journalist Union Aktar Hossain, journalists Golam Mortoza, Rawonak Hasan and Tanya Quddus, wife of late cartoonist MA Quddus, discussed.

Regarding the requirement of wage board, the Planning Minister also said, I hear about your (journalists) wage board from time to time. I don’t have deep knowledge due to not being involved in this matter. However, I also know that the wage board is announced, but not implemented. I also read it sometimes. Wedgeboard is announced, no one means it. Since the wage board has been discussed with everyone, why not accept it? Where is the scope of not obeying? Wageboards are essential for safety in the journalism profession. I can understand that.