A human chain and rally were held in Nilphamari on Saturday as part of the central program announced by the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) to demand the implementation of the ‘No Wage Board, No Media’ policy and to ensure the professional rights of journalists. The rally was organized by the Nilphamari Union of Journalists (NPUJ).

​More than a hundred journalists from various local media outlets participated in the rally organized at DC Mor, the heart of the district, at 11 am. The journalists displayed banners and placards with their 21-point demands. The rally strongly demanded that the government fulfill the just demands of the journalist community as soon as possible.

Journalist leaders called for the implementation of 21-point demands at the rally, including the immediate implementation of the 9th and 10th wage boards, the formation of the 10th wage board for print, electronic and online media, setting a minimum monthly salary of 35,000 taka for journalists, formulating a journalist protection policy to ensure the safety and professional independence of journalists, ensuring justice for all journalists including journalist couple Sagar-Runi, setting a two-day weekly holiday for journalists, and immediately repealing all black laws against media freedom.

The rally was presided over by Yasin Mohammad Sithun, president of the Nilphamari Journalists Union, and moderated by Arefinul Islam.

Acting President of Nilphamari Press Club Atiar Rahman Badda said in his speech that due to the long-standing non-implementation of the Ninth Wage Board and the unbridled rise in commodity prices, journalists and their families are facing extreme financial crisis. If there is no guarantee of livelihood even after risking their lives in a risky profession like journalism, it is a big threat to independent journalism.

​Nilphamari Journalists Union President Yasin Mohammad Sithun said, “The incidents of attacks and cases against media workers have increased alarmingly. We are demanding the immediate formulation of a security policy to ensure the safety of journalists. The movement will continue until our 21-point demands are accepted.”

Other speakers also demanded a reduction in the high corporate tax rate on journalists and the establishment of separate labor courts to ensure fair wages.

Other speakers at the event included: Ripon Islam Sheikh, general secretary of Nilphamari Journalists Union, Nasir Uddin Shah Milon, district correspondent of Dainik Dinkal, Milladur Rahman Mamun, district correspondent of ATN News, Mostafizur Rahman Sabuj, editor of Saptahik Nil Chokh, Tohmin Haque Bobby, staff reporter of Dainik Janakantha, Hasan Rabbi Prodhan, district correspondent of RTV, Manjurul Alam Siam, district correspondent of Machhranga Television, Nur Alam, general secretary of Press Club, etc.