, April 18 -- Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Saturday said the government is working to introduce a retirement allowance to ensure financial security for senior journalists.

He made the remarks while visiting ailing journalist Ismail Hossain Negaban at Bangladesh Medical University.

"As the issue of financial insecurity among senior journalists has long been overlooked the current government has taken initiatives to introduce retirement benefits for journalists so they can live with dignity in their later years," said the minister.

The minister said although the media is regarded as the fourth pillar of a modern democratic state journalists often work without institutional protection, leaving them in uncert...