The Journalist Community of Bangladesh has submitted a memorandum to the information adviser Md Mahfuj Alam, demanding a five-day holiday for journalists and media workers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Member secretary of the organisation Md Mia Hossain submitted the memorandum on Sunday.
According to the memorandum, this year the government has declared a 10-day holiday for public officials on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. In light of this, it has become essential to declare a minimum five-day holiday for journalists and media professionals as well.
鈥極therwise, widespread dissatisfaction and resentment will be spread among the journalist community,鈥� read the memorandum.
To eliminate discrimination, it is needed to issue an official gazette declaring at least a five-day holiday for media workers during Eid-ul-Azha, as well as holidays on all other public days.
It also mentioned that since the country鈥檚 independence, journalists had faced various forms of discrimination in the media sector. While they were allowed holidays during the two Eids, they were not granted leave during other religious festivals such as Durga Puja, Christmas and Buddha Purnima.
鈥楨ven on other significant national holidays, they are often required to work without receiving any special compensation,鈥� it said.
As members of a profession often described as the conscience of the nation, journalists must no longer face such discrimination in matters of basic rights like holidays.
Due to the lack of a government directive on journalists鈥� holidays, owners鈥� associations in the media sector often grant leave at their own discretion. Even when media workers are made to work under 鈥榮pecial arrangements鈥� on holidays, they are not properly compensated.
The memorandum highlights that journalists typically receive leave on only a few public holidays 鈥� notably 6 to 7 days during the two Eids, as well as on Pahela Baishakh, May Day, 12th Rabiul Awal, Ashura, and Shab-e-Barat.
Besides, journalists in newspapers receive cash wages in lieu of leave for 21st February, 26th March and 16th December. Beyond these, no leave or compensation is provided for working on other public holidays.
Decisions regarding holidays are made by a single association of owners from only 26 newspapers, yet these decisions are followed across the entire media sector.
According to their decisions, during Eid-ul-Fitr in 2020 and 2024, journalists received five days of leave, while this year only three days were granted. For electronic and online media, there are no standardised holiday policies.
Under these circumstances, the memorandum urges the government to eliminate holiday-related discrimination by issuing a gazette notification that mandates at least a five-day holiday for journalists during Eid-ul-Azha and grants media holidays on all public holidays.
It also demands that if any media house requires staff to work during holidays under special arrangements, they must be paid double wages in cash.
