Participant journalists at the half-annual general meeting of Barisal Reporters Unity on Saturday demanded end of political violence, restoration of democratic norms.They also called for assurances for professional safety and security of the journalists by implementing wage board at all levels in accordance with government announced pay scale. Participants of the programme said journalism could never be considered as a profession till ensuring proper professional status and safety- security by implementing indiscriminate wage board at all level in accordance with the government announced pay-scale.They also put the spotlight, in particular, on the issues of safety of journalists, combating impunity for crimes against freedom of expression, and securing a free and open Internet as the precondition for freedom of speech.The programme was presided over by Nazrul Biswas, BRU president; half-annual report of the organisation was presented by BRU secretary Bappi Majumdar.Among others BRU members Marjina Begum, Rehman Anis, Arifur Rahman, Mohsin Sujon, Gazi Shahriaz, Kamal Masudur Rahman, Mithun Saha, Masuk Kamal, Sushanta Ghosh, Anisur Rahman Swapan, took part in discussion.
Issues of media freedom, safety of journalists, independence and access to information, as well as the role of the journalists in media developments are also discussed in the programme. Barisal Correspondent
