UNB

The government is working to introduce a retirement allowance to ensure financial security for senior journalists, said Zahir Uddin Swapon, the information and broadcasting minister.

Although the media is regarded as the fourth pillar of a modern democratic state, journalists often work without institutional protection, leaving them in uncertain conditions.

“Journalism is a very important and respected profession. However, unfortunately, many senior journalists spend their final years in financial hardship. The government is working to address this situation so that they can live with dignity.”

Swapon’s comments came while visiting the ailing journalist Ismail Hossain Negaban at Bangladesh Medical University yesterday. He handed over a cheque of Tk 100,000 as financial assistance to Negaban on behalf of the Journalists Welfare Trust.

The government is formulating policies to ensure media freedom and responsibility while strengthening the activities of the Journalists Welfare Trust.