The Media Reform Commission has proposed setting the minimum salary for journalists at a level equivalent to BCS Grade-9 officers. Additionally, the commission recommends that a Bachelor's degree be the minimum educational qualification required for entering the journalism profession.
On March 22, the commission submitted its report to the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna. Afterwards, Commission Chairman Kamal Ahmed shared a summary of the report during a press briefing attended by the Chief Adviser's press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, and other commission members.
Kamal Ahmed explained that the commission has also called for the creation of a protection law for journalists, and it has drafted an ordinance for this purpose.
The commission has also emphasized the importance of financial security for journalists. To address this, Kamal Ahmed suggested aligning the starting salary for journalists with the ninth-grade pay scale, similar to that of BCS officers. This proposal would apply to journalists across the country, though journalists in Dhaka could receive a "Dhaka Allowance" due to the higher cost of living in the capital. The specific amount for this allowance would be determined through discussions between the government and media organizations.
For context, the 2015 National Pay Scale sets the starting salary for ninth-grade officers at 22,000 BDT, with additional allowances, bringing the total starting salary to over 35,000 BDT.
Regarding educational qualifications, Kamal Ahmed stated that a Bachelor's degree should be the minimum requirement for journalists. Additionally, individuals would need to undergo a one-year probationary period before attaining full journalistic status.
Other recommendations in the report include the "One House, One Media" initiative, which proposes that each institution should own only one media outlet. The commission also suggests granting autonomy to Bangladesh Television and Radio, merging them to form a national broadcasting agency that would operate independently.
Kamal Ahmed expressed hope that both the current interim government and the future elected government will implement these recommendations.
The Media Reform Commission was formed under the interim government through a gazette notification issued on November 18, 2024. Kamal Ahmed, a senior journalist, was appointed as its chairman, with other members including Giti Ara Nasreen (Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University), Anjan Chowdhury (President of Atkor), Kamrun Nesa Hasan (Retired Director General of Bangladesh Television), Shamsul Haq Zahid (Editor of The Financial Express), Akhter Hossain Khan (Secretary of the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh), Syed Abdal Ahmed (Former General Secretary of the National Press Club), Fahim Ahmed (CEO of Jamuna Television), Jimmy Amir (Convenor of Media Support Network), Mustafa Sabuj (Bogura Correspondent of The Daily Star), Titu Dutt Gupta (Deputy Editor of The Business Standard), and student representative Abdullah Al Mamun.