Government working to implement retirement allowance for senior journalists: Information and Broadcasting Minister

Dhaka, April 18, 2026. 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. The minister said this while visiting journalist Ismail Hossain Negaban, former president of Barisal Press Club, who is undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Medical University today. 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...

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Dhaka, April 18, 2026. 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. The minister said this while visiting journalist Ismail Hossain Negaban, former president of Barisal Press Club, who is undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Medical University today. 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, “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 also said that the government is working to formulate 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 state’s patronage 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. At this time, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting handed over a check of one lakh taka financial assistance to the ailing journalist Ismail Hossain Negaban on behalf of the Journalists’ Welfare Trust. At this time, BMU’s Orthopedic Surgery Department Consultant Dr. AR Khandaker, Journalists’ Welfare Trust Managing Director Bashir Jamal, Board of Trustees member Khandaker Kawsar Hossain, Barisal Press Club Vice President Zakir Hossain and others were present. Journalist Ismail Hossain is undergoing treatment on the sixth floor of the cabin block under the supervision of Dr. Md. Ali Faisal, Associate Professor of BMU’s Orthopedic Surgery Department.