Desk Report:
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said that the government has taken initiatives to introduce retirement allowance to ensure the financial security of the country’s senior journalists. He said this while visiting ailing journalist Ismail Hossain Negaban at Bangladesh Medical University on Saturday (April 18, 2026).
The Information Minister said that although the media is considered the fourth pillar in a modern democratic state, the workers of this sector work under various uncertainties as they are outside institutional protection. Especially the issue of financial security of senior journalists has been neglected for a long time. In this reality, the government has taken the initiative to introduce retirement allowance for them.
He said that journalism is a very important and honorable profession. But unfortunately, many senior journalists spend their days in financial hardship at the end of their lives. The government is working to overcome this situation so that they can live a respectable life.
The minister further said that the government is working on formulating policies to ensure the independence and responsibility of the media. At the same time, the activities of the Journalists’ Welfare Trust are being further strengthened.
He mentioned that the patronage of the state is essential to sustain the talented and talented people of the society. Ensuring a safe and dignified working environment for important professionals like journalists is the government’s priority.
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting handed over a cheque of one lakh taka financial assistance to ailing journalist Ismail Hossain Negaban on behalf of the Journalists’ Welfare Trust.
Bashir Jamal, Managing Director of the Journalists’ Welfare Trust, and Khondaker Kawsar Hossain, member of the Board of Trustees, were present at the time.
