DHAKA, Feb 23, 2026 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan today nominated State Minister Yeaser Khan Chowdhury as the new chairman of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust in its 39th board meeting. The minister also directed the authorities to prepare a comprehensive database of beneficiaries and prospective beneficiaries to ensure greater discipline and transparency in the trust's assistance activities, said an official handout. He issued the directives while addressing the 39th board meeting of the Trust held on Circuit House Road in Dhaka.  State Minister Yeaser Khan, Trust Vice Chairman and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farjana, member and Chief Information Officer Md. Nizamul Kabir, and member and Director General of the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) Faruk Wasif, among others, were present at the programme. At the meeting, the Trust's Managing Director Mohammad Abdullah, who served as Member Secretary, briefed the newly appointed minister and state minister on the trust's activities, challenges and future plans. The minister said initiatives would be taken to introduce retirement allowances for journalists in line with the BNP's election pledge.  Responding to board members' demands, he also said that special arrangements would be made at a major government hospital to ensure proper medical treatment facilities for journalists. Managing Director Muhammad Abdullah requested measures to exempt the trust's deposited funds in banks from duties in accordance with existing rules to help overcome financial constraints.  He also sought ministry support regarding recruitment of staff, provision of vehicles and construction of a permanent building for the trust. After the meeting, the minister and the state minister distributed scholarship cheques among 402 meritorious children of journalist families at a ceremony at the auditorium of the Tathya Bhaban, organized by the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust. In his speech as the chief guest, Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said the main driving force behind the country's major achievements is the people and the mass media.  He said the media had strengthened public aspirations by supporting national movements and providing moral backing when needed. Ensuring the free flow of information to the public would be the ministry's key responsibility, and this would not be possible without journalists, he said adding therefore, journalists would remain at the center of the ministry's attention. State Minister Yeaser Khan said in line with his electoral commitments, he would establish a press club complex in his constituency and form a special fund for journalists' welfare.  He also expressed gratitude to media professionals for their objective and courageous journalism during the mass uprising of 2024 and congratulated the meritorious children of journalist families present at the event. In her remarks, Secretary Mahbuba Farjana assured that administrative and financial approval for providing monthly allowances to veteran journalists would be resolved promptly. Trust's Managing Director Muhammad Abdullah chaired the programme while board members including PIO Md. Nizamul Kabir, PIB Director General Faruk Wasif, Joint Secretary Riasat Al Wasif, journalist families, and senior officials of the ministry and its affiliated departments and agencies were present.