1,344 journalists received Tk 6.48 crore in welfare grants under the current government, state minister tells parliament
A total of 1,344 journalists have received Tk 6 crore 48 lakh 5 thousand in welfare grants during the tenure of the current government, parliament has been told.
In the same period, 402 students from journalist families received Tk 73 lakh 26 thousand in scholarships in the 2025-26 fiscal year, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury said.
On Thursday (12 November), the state minister gave the information in parliament in reply to a written question from Nilofar Chowdhury Moni, member of parliament for reserved women's seat-10 of the ruling party, answering on behalf of Information and Broadcasting Minister Andalib Rahman.
The state minister said the government has taken and is implementing various programmes to ensure journalists' professional dignity, financial security, social protection and overall welfare. To that end, the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust was established through legislation in 2014.
He said the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Rules, 2016 were subsequently published in gazette form on 13 April 2016.
According to the state minister, financial assistance is being provided through the Journalist Welfare Trust to insolvent, sick, accident-injured, unemployed and deceased journalists and to members of their families. In particular, welfare grants are given under the prescribed policy in cases of a journalist's death, serious illness, accident and financial insolvency.
He said scholarships and financial assistance are being given to meritorious and financially insolvent students from journalist families so they can continue their education. Programmes have also been taken to provide financial assistance and honours in connection with the COVID-period crisis, to the families of journalist martyrs linked to the July mass uprising, and to brave journalists.
The state minister also said that under the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Rules, 2016, grants are given after verification of applications, review of necessary documents, and approval by the appropriate authority and the trustee board. To ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution of grants, steps have been taken to disburse the money through beneficiaries' bank accounts.
According to the figures given by the minister, from 1 January to 30 September 2026, under the current government, 1,344 journalists were given Tk 6 crore 48 lakh 5 thousand in welfare grants. In addition, in the 2025-26 fiscal year, 402 students were given a total of Tk 73 lakh 26 thousand in scholarships.
He said that since the establishment of the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust, a total of Tk 67 crore 14 lakh 17 thousand has been distributed among a total of 19,321 journalists and members of their families, including welfare grants, scholarships, stipends, COVID-period financial assistance, financial assistance for July martyrs and brave journalists, and honours.
