POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Apr 3, 2022 : Journalist leaders have alleged that the proposed Media Workers Act-2021 is an attempt to imprison journalists. They say efforts are being made to deprive journalists of their right to speak and to turn them into government employees. It needs to stop.
The demand was made at a protest rally and human chain organized by an organization called ‘Justice for Journalists’ at the premises of the National Press Club on Sunday.
Former President of Dhaka Journalists Union Quddus Afrad, General Secretary Akhter Hossain, Treasurer Asharaful Islam, Joint Secretary Khairul Alam, Legal Secretary Saif Ali, Jahangir Khan Babu and others spoke on the occasion.
Leaders at the rally said, “We do not expect such a law from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.” Those who drafted this law are the enemies of journalism. Don’t play with journalists. This law has made journalists third class employees. We do not want to accept such disrespectful laws. “We do not work under the government,” he added. But this law has made us act like government employees. If this is the case then the government will provide facilities. You are not giving that much.
Complaining that the draft law had been changed, the speakers said that it was not a black law, it would be a worse law. We demanded the government to enact a law to bring those who work in the media under one roof. Now he has given such a law, I can’t throw it, I can’t swallow it.
Calling the attention of the Prime Minister, the journalist leaders said that the government is trying to create chaos by confronting the journalists with this law in a cycle. We want to amend this law. If that is not the case then we are rejecting this law.
