PM receives Tk 40m donation for journalists` trust

Ittefaq Group of Publications Limited has donated Tk 40 million (Tk 4 crore) to the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received a cheque for the amount from the Ittefaq Group of Publications Limited authorities at Ganabhaban in Dhaka on Sunday, PM`s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said.

He said the trust has been set up at the initiative of the Prime Minister for the welfare of journalists and she has given Tk 50 million (Tk 5 crore) as ‘seed money’ for it (trust).

The government regularly provides financial assistance to insolvent journalists across Bangladesh from the trust.

On several occasions, the Prime Minister called upon the owners of media outlets and well-off people to come forward to donate in the trust. In response to her call, Ittefaq Group of Publications Limited donated the money on Sunday.

Earlier on October 25, private Maasranga Television donated Tk 30 million (Tk 3 crore) to the trust.

Managing Director of Maasranga TV Anjan Chowdhury Pintu handed over a cheque for the amount to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to a news agency. – bz