The Media Reform Commission has recommended that the minimum salary for entry-level journalists be set equivalent to the pay of a Grade 9 BCS officer. Additionally, the commission proposed that journalists should hold at least a graduate degree.
The commission’s report, which was presented to Chief Adviser Prof. Mohammed Yunus at his residence in Dhaka on Saturday, outlines these recommendations as part of a broader push to improve financial security and professional standards for journalists in Bangladesh.
According to the national pay scale of 2015, a Grade 9 BCS officer earns a basic salary of Tk 22,000, which, with allowances like house rent, exceeds Tk 35,000. The report suggests that journalists should be entitled to a comparable salary, with higher pay considered for those working in Dhaka, where the cost of living is significantly higher.
Kamal Ahmed, the head of the 11-member commission, explained that the proposed salary structure aims to ensure journalists’ financial stability. He also advocated for a new law to safeguard the rights and welfare of journalists, with a draft of the law included in the report.
In his briefing to the media, Ahmed emphasized that having a graduate qualification should be a requirement for journalists. He expressed hope that either the interim government or the next elected government would adopt the commission’s recommendations to promote objective journalism and professionalism in the media sector.
The Media Reform Commission was established by the interim government in November 2024, following the resignation of the Awami League government, to strengthen and ensure the independence of mass media in Bangladesh.
