Cabinet okays draft
The cabinet yesterday approved the final draft of the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Act, 2013 to financially assist journalists in need.
Financial aides will be provided in the case of deaths, accidents or loss of working ability, Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters.The trust will also provide stipends for journalists for outstanding contributions in the field and for their talented children.
A 13-member board, with the information minister as chairman, information secretary as vice-chairman and a government-appointed managing director, would manage the trust, said Bhuiyan.
A PMO official, joint secretaries to the information and finance ministries, PIB director general, BFUJ president and secretary general, and three government-nominated journalists will be among the members.
A Tk 1.1 crore fund has been allocated in this regard for this year, he said, adding that the trust could receive donations from individuals, organisations, and foreign sources.
-With The Daily Star input
