The High Court has issued a rule asking why the ninth wage board, which was formed to set the salary structure for newspaper and news media workers, should not be declared illegal.
Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Ashraful Kamal issued the rule on Sunday after hearing a petition, reports bdnews24.com.
Matiur Rahman, president of the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) and editor of the Prothom Alo, filed the petition.
In a bid to block the new wage for journalists, Rahman had also sought a stay order on the operation of the wage board, but the request was turned down.
Though the decision was made on Sunday, the news of the development was revealed to the press on Monday.
The court gave the information secretary, the labour secretary and wage board chairman and retired Justice Md Nizamul Huq two weeks to respond to the rule. The court instructed the orders to be sent to the respondents by special messenger.
Lawyer M Yusuf Ali represented the petitioners at the hearing, while Deputy Attorney General Ekramul Huq Tutul represented the state.