9th wage board: Hearing on govt appeal 28 August
Following a High Court order on 6 November last year, the owners of newspapers and other media institutions will have to pay the income tax of their journalists and other employees
The chamber judge of the Appellate Division has fixed 28 August to hear an appeal by the state seeking a stay on the High Court Division order that questioned the legality of the recommendations made by the cabinet committee for the 9th wage board for journalists.
Chamber Judge M Enayetur Rahim passed the order after hearing both sides on Monday (24 July).
Deputy Attorney General Sheikh Saifuzzaman (Zaman) represented the state and Senior Advocate Dr Kazi Aktar Hamid stood for writ petitioner - Bangladesh News Agency (BSS) Employees Union.
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Advocate Dr Kazi Aktar Hamid told the media that following a High Court order on 6 November last year, the owners of newspapers and other media institutions will have to pay the income tax of their journalists and other employees.
He said the government filed an appeal on Sunday (23 July) seeking a stay on the High Court order.
On 29 January 2018, the 9th Wage Board of 13 members was formed headed by retired Justice Md Nizamul Huq of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
Later, Justice Nizamul submitted a report to the then Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu on 4 November of the same year, recommending a maximum increase of 85% in the salaries of journalists.
Then in January 2019, the Cabinet Committee related to the implementation of the 9th Wage Board was reconstituted, making Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader convener of the board.
The government announced the 9th Wage Board through gazette notification on 12 September 2019.
But, according to chapter 12 of the notification regarding the cabinet committee recommendations for the 9th Wage Board, journalists and employees have to pay income tax from their own income and will receive a gratuity yearly equal to the basic salary of a month.
On 23 November 2020, Mohammad Mahbubuzzaman, general secretary of the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) employees' association, filed a writ petition with the HC challenging the cabinet committee recommendations.
On 25 November of the same year, the court issued a rule asking why the cabinet committee recommendations should not be declared illegal.
The information and labour secretaries were made respondents to the rule.
