Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) have rejected the gazette of the Ninth Wage Board Award as it goes against the interests of journalists.
But two other factions of the entities have hailed the prime minister for announcing the wage board award and urged the government to overcome journalists' frustrations over some conflicting provisions.
On Tuesday, Ruhul Amin Gazi, president of a section of BFUJ, called a countrywide protest for September 24 with a demand for a fresh wage board award.
"Every year, journalists get two gratuities, which is equivalent of two months' basic salary," he uttered.
"But the Ninth Wage Board Award has mentioned a single gratuity," Mr Gazi told a rally held outside the National Press Club in the capital.
He said house rent is increasing day by day, but it has been decreased in the latest wage board, which is unacceptable.
Mr Gazi declared a countrywide protest rally for September 24 for the cancellation of this wage board and demanded a new one only to uphold the interests of journalists.
On Monday, the rival factions held a meeting demanding that the government take steps to overcome journalists' frustrations by removing ambiguities regarding existing benefits, including gratuity.
In a press release, they highlighted grievances among journalists for cutting benefits of gratuity and house rent and shifting tax burden on journalists.
"BFJU has urged the government to take steps to address journalists' frustrations," both unions said after an urgent meeting chaired by BFUJ president Molla Jalal.
BFUJ vice-president Syed Ishtiaque Reza, secretary general Shaban Mahmood, DUJ president Abu Jafar Surjo and DUJ secretary Sohel Haider Chowdhury, among others, attended Monday's meeting.
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