Noab wants stimulus for newspaper industry

Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (Noab) yesterday demanded a stimulus package from the government for newspapers, hawkers, workers and agents to offset the coronavirus impact.

It also demanded bank loans for newspapers and requested the information ministry to pay soon the bills of government supplements and advertisements published in different newspapers on different occasions.

Leaders of Noab made the demands at a views-exchange meeting with Information Minister Hasan Mahmud at his ministry, a press release from the ministry said.

About the demands, the minister said the Cabinet Division has already sent letters to different ministries, asking them to pay the advertisement bills of different government departments and agencies.

"We will talk to Bangladesh Bank regarding the bank loan for newspapers. To me, newspapers is a service sector. As an industry, you [newspapers] get some facilities from the industries ministry. As a service sector, I think there are facilities here too," he added.

Hasan, also the Awami League joint general secretary, urged the newspapers' authorities to publish positive and inspirational reports to help people keep their morale strong during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

"Expectation drives people to move towards the future and helps them remain strong in their struggle for life. That's why I will request the newspapers to publish such news items, which keep people's hopes alive and will inform them that a sunny day is coming after the darkness," he said.

Information Secretary Kamrun Nahar, NOAB President AK Azad and its members Matiur Rahman, Mahfuz Anam, Tarik Sujat, Shah Hossain Imam, Naem Nizam, Altamash Kabir Mishu and Saiful Alam were present.

The minister said publishing positive news is urgent now as the panicked people are very worried about their future.

Hasan said the government and the newspapers should work more closely as their aim is the same -- to move the nation forward. "And that's why we will work together to this end."

Later, the minister held a meeting with the representatives of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

During the meeting, DRU President Rafiqul Islam Aazd, General Secretary Reaz Choudhury and executive member Motahar Hossain sought financial assistance from the government for the family of journalist Humayun Kabir Khokan, who died of Covid-19.

They also urged the government to provide treatment to journalists infected with novel coronavirus and government assistance for the DRU members.