PM Hasina announces another 10C grant for journalists

Prime Minister Sheikh on Thursday announced a grant of another Tk10 crore to the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust (BJWT).

She made the announcement at the Delegates Conference-2023 of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists at the National Press Club.

“As I’ve established it (BJWT) and come here this time again, I will give a grant of another Tk10 crore to the BJWT,” she said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that she gave seed money when she constituted the BJWT for the welfare of the country’s journalists.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the trust fund in 2014 by giving seed money of Tk5 crore.

Later, she also gave more grants at different times.

During her speech at BFUJ representative conference, she also said that the Awami League government has prioritized the welfare of journalists.

“We’ve formulated the 'Journalist Support Allowance and Grant Policy 2012' and the 'Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Act-2014' to institutionalize the journalist support program.”

She said a board of trustees has been formed under this act.

In October 2018, the premier donated Tk20 crore to the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust.

She said that since the fiscal year (FY) 2015-2016 to June 2023, a total of Tk29,81,50,000 has been distributed as welfare grants to 3,433 journalists and journalist families.

In addition, she said, in the first phase of the Covid-19 period, BJWT distributed Tk3.35 crore among the affected 3,350 journalists across the country in the FY2019-2020.

In the second phase, in the FYs 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the government allocated another Tk10 crore from BJWT to the journalists affected by Covid-19.

So far, a total of Tk6,72,70,000 has been given to a total number of 6,727 journalists affected by Coronavirus where each received Tk10,000 under the prime minister’s special financial support.

Source: UNB