Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has requested the owners of news media organizations to stop sacking their employees and pay their arrear salary and allowances.
The minister made the request after inaugurating a Covid-19 sample collection booth in association with Brac at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) on Monday.
Amid the crisis where the country is dealing with Covid-19 outbreak, some media employees have shockingly been laid off, while many have not gotten their salaries, he said.
“I would request the owners of all media houses to kindly not lay any of their employees off during this pandemic, and pay them properly,” Hasan said.
It is also not the proper time to take disciplinary action or punishment even if someone has committed a misdeed, the information minister said.
“The owners might say that they are undergoing problems... but I would say that there was no problem earlier and nor will be after a few months,” he added.
The government has taken different measures so that media people get their salaries and allowances properly, the minister said.
The Cabinet Division has sent letters to 58 ministries and divisions, directing them to pay all unpaid bills of media houses, and they will be paid shortly, he further stated.
He also praised journalists for working on the frontline and contributing in dismissing rumours amid the virus outbreak.
DRU President Rafiqul Islam Azad and General Secretary Riaz Chowdhury were present at the inauguration ceremony, among others.
