Dhaka: Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said the decision on the Ninth Wage Board Award for journalists will be taken very soon.

‘We’re giving great importance to the Ninth Wage Board and put it on the agenda of the first meeting of the new cabinet,’ said, Quader, also the general secretary of Awami League, at the Secretariat, reports the UNB.

On the same day, a high-powered cabinet committee consisting senior ministers was formed, said the minister while taking to journalists after concluding a meeting of the cabinet committee formed to evaluate recommendations of the 9th wage board for journalists.

‘No decision was taken in today’s (Saturday’s) meeting, but hopefully there’ll a good outcome after further discussions,’ he said.

Asked about the inclusion of TV journalists in the 9th wage board, the minister said the government has given emphasis on the issue and it will be discussed at the next committee meeting.

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, who was also present in the meeting, said, ‘Some online news portals are doing good journalism but some others busy spreading propaganda. Necessary actions will be taken against them by implementing the registration system.’

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, Bangladesh Protidin editor Noim Nizam, Manab Zamin editor Motiur Rahman Chowdhury were, among others, present at the meeting.

Earlier on January 21, the cabinet committee formed to review the Ninth Wage Board Award for journalists and employees working in newspapers and news agencies, was reconstituted keeping its terms of reference unchanged.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader is leading the seven-member reconstituted committee, but the terms of reference remained unchanged.

According to the terms of reference, the committee will submit its report by January 28, 2019 but the time can be extended if they deem it necessary.

On December 3, the cabinet formed a five-member cabinet committee headed by the Cultural Affairs Minister to review the Ninth Wage Board Award for newspapers in 2018.