The Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on Sunday honoured the families of martyred journalists and those who were injured during the July uprising past year.
At an event titled 鈥楬onouring ceremony for the families of martyred journalists and injured journalists in the July uprising鈥� held at the capital鈥檚 鈥楾atthya Bhaban鈥�, the families of five martyred journalists and 192 injured journalists were each presented with a cheque of Tk 25,000, a certificate and a crest.
Presiding over the event, Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust managing director Mohammad Abdullah said that 192 injured journalists were selected from 450 submissions through a verification process, and more than half of them were photo and video journalists.
Addressing the event as chief guest, adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Md Mahfuj Alam said that the interim government had been working to implement the Ninth Wage Board gazette and formulating a law for the protection of journalists.
He said that despite many media houses were under the influence of the fascist Awami League regime, many journalists were still committed to the fulfilling of their duties, and mobile journalists played a significant role during the uprising.
As a special guest, the chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam said that Bangladesh witnessed both the best and the worst of journalism during the uprising.
Many journalists were killed and injured on duty, while a section of journalists visited Ganabhaban, the official residence of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to support her brutal attempts to quell the protests.聽
He also called on the media owners to ensure safety and provide dignified wages for journalists.
Martyred journalist Tahir Zaman Priyo鈥檚 mother Shamsi Ara Zaman, The Financial Express editor Shamsul Huq Zahid and The Daily Star senior staff photographer Amran Hossain also spoke at the event, among others.
