Sangsad Bhaban: The Bangladesh Press Institute Bill 2018 was placed in Parliament on Wednesday aiming at bringing the activities of the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) under the ambit of the law. 

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective Parliamentary Standing Committee for further scrutiny. The Committee was asked to submit its report within one month.

Previously the PIB was run by a Resolution of 1976, reports the UNB.

Under the proposed law, the PIB will provide training to working journalists and public relations officers of different government agencies.

A 16-member Board of Directors will be formed for running the activities of the institute and it will honour the journalists for their contributions.

The proposed law has defined the term ‘journalist’ under which all (who work on fulltime basis) editors, feature writers, assistant-editors, correspondents, reporters, copy writers, cartoonists, photographers or persons nominated by the government through gazette notifications will be considered as journalists.