Media Reform Commission Proposes BCS-Grade Entry Salary for Journalists, Bachelor’s Degree as Minimum Qualification

The Media Reform Commission has proposed sweeping changes to improve the professional and financial standing of journalists in Bangladesh, including setting the entry-level salary equivalent to a 9th-grade Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) officer and establishing a bachelor’s degree as the minimum educational requirement for aspiring journalists.

The commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus this afternoon at the state guest house Jamuna. The report was handed over by Commission Chair Kamal Ahmed, accompanied by fellow commission members.

Following the submission, Kamal Ahmed addressed a press briefing outside the Jamuna, where he outlined key recommendations from the report. The chief adviser’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, and other commission members were present.

Among the major proposals, the commission recommended the enactment of a dedicated journalist protection law to ensure the safety and security of media professionals. A draft ordinance has already been prepared in this regard, Ahmed said.

On the issue of financial security, the commission suggested aligning journalists’ entry-level salaries with the 9th grade of the National Pay Scale 2015, which starts at a basic salary of Tk 22,000, and can exceed Tk 35,000 with housing and other allowances.

This standard should apply nationwide, but considering the higher cost of living in Dhaka, a special “Dhaka allowance” may be added for journalists based in the capital. The government, in consultation with media stakeholders, would determine the allowance amount.

The commission also emphasized the need for minimum academic qualifications, proposing that journalists must hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, a one-year internship period was recommended before an individual can be recognized as a full-fledged journalist.

“We hope that both the current interim government and any future elected governments will seriously consider and implement these recommendations,” he said.

Commission members include Professor Gitiara Nasreen, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Dhaka University; Shamsul Huq Zahid, Editor, The Financial Express; Akhter Hossain Khan, Secretary, Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB); Syed Abdal Ahmed, representative of the Association of Television Owners, former Secretary of the Jatiya Press Club; Fahim Ahmed, CEO, Jamuna Television; Trustee, Broadcast Journalism Centre; Jimi Amir, journalist and Convener, Media Support Network; Mostofa Sabuj, The Daily Star’s Bogura Correspondent; Titu Dutta Gupta, Deputy Editor, The Business Standard; and Abdullah Al Mamun, student representative.

The Media Reform Commission was formed to assess and recommend comprehensive reforms to modernize Bangladesh’s media landscape and ensure better working conditions for journalists.