Bhorer Kagoj announces closure amid wage dispute
Management says decision was due to circumstances beyond their control
The daily Bhorer Kagoj has announced the closure of its publication.
In a notice issued on Monday (20 January), the newspaper's management cited Section 12 of the Labour Act 2006, attributing the decision to circumstances beyond their control.
The closure follows a series of recent protests by journalists at the newspaper, who have been demanding wages in line with the Eighth Wage Board and the payment of arrears from their date of appointment.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
On 19 January, a group of journalists, supported by members of the journalists' union and other external activists, held a demonstration in front of the Bhorer Kagoj office in Dhaka.
A senior journalist from Bhorer Kagoj, speaking anonymously to the media, said there have been ongoing tensions since 5 August, when the Awami League was toppled by mass uprising.
"Despite several meetings with the owners, no resolution was reached. Our demand was to bring our salaries under the Wage Board, but instead, the company chose to shut down," said the journalist.
He added, "There were about 140 employees at Bhorer Kagoj. While the owners have cleared outstanding salaries, they have yet to provide any service benefits. They assured us they will try to resolve the matter."
The wage dispute is said to stem from the fact that while some employees at Bhorer Kagoj are paid according to the Eighth Wage Board, others, hired on consolidated terms, are demanding similar benefits.
Founded on 15 February 1992, Bhorer Kagoj was a leading Bengali-language daily based in Dhaka, offering both print and online editions.
Over its years of operation, the newspaper has had several prominent editors, including Nayeemul Islam Khan, Matiur Rahman, Benazir Ahmed, Abed Khan, and most recently, Shyamal Dutta.
