Information Ministry on Sunday finalised a list of 148 insolvent, sick injured and killed journalists for providing them with financial assistance, allowance and grants amounting to Tk 77.50 lakh in third phase in the current fiscal.
The decision came at a joint meeting of the National and Metropolis committee relating to the issue, said a PID handout.
The meeting, presided over by information secretary Mortuza Ahmed, was attended, among others, by Prime Minister’s information adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, press secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) chief editor and managing director Abul Kalam Azad.
Meanwhile, 24 journalists have already been provided Tk 27.50 lakh in two phases during the current 2013-14 financial year under ‘Journalists Assistance, Allowance/Grants Policy 2012.’
During the meeting, the Information Secretary said the task of implementing the process of forming the ‘Journalist Welfare Trust’ is going on speedily in accordance with the directives of the Prime Minister.
The draft bill in this regard recommended by the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Information will be placed before parliament soon, he added.
Source: UNBConnect