Factions of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and the Dhaka Union of Journalists have demanded the reinstatement of four senior journalists of private television channel Ekhon TV, reports BSS.

The trade unions also called for the immediate payment of salaries, allowances and arrears to media professionals before Eid-ul-Azha.

BFUJ president Obaidur Rahman Shaheen and secretary general Quader Gani Chowdhury, and DUJ president Md Shahidul Islam and acting general secretary Md Didarul Alam Didar pressed the demands in a joint statement on Saturday.

The leaders stressed that the ‘compulsory leave’ unlawfully imposed on the four Ekhon TV journalists must be revoked immediately to secure their return to the workplace.

Earlier on February 17, the channel’s assignment desk in-charge and special correspondent Mahmud Rakib, special correspondent Muzahid Shuvo, deputy assignment desk in-charge and senior reporter Md Belayet Hossain and senior reporter Azhar Lemon were placed on compulsory leave and served show-cause notices.

Despite passing of three months, management has yet to allow them back to their duties, a move that has triggered widespread discontent.