*Staff Correspondent:*

A new organization, "Sangbadik Oikya Parishad (SAOP)" (Journalists' Unity Council), has been launched with the aim of ensuring the financial security, professional safety, and fair labor rights of journalists in the country.

The formal activities of the organization were announced at the inaugural ceremony held last Friday, November 7, at a prestigious hotel in the capital.

Leaders of the Journalists' Unity Council (SAOP) said that journalists in the newspaper and media industry have been suffering from various crises for a long time, including inadequate salaries, job insecurity, lack of welfare benefits, and insecurity. Especially in the digital age, as the economy of newspapers and television media has shrunk, many media workers are now facing financial and professional uncertainty.

Considering this reality, SAOP will work with coordinated and long-term plans to ensure the welfare, training, and security of journalists.

It was announced at the meeting that "Sangbadik Oikya Parishad (SAOP)" will take initiatives to formulate a minimum wage structure for journalists, provide life and health insurance benefits, retirement allowances, professional training programs, and establish a legal aid fund.

At the same time, the organization will play an active role in cases of harassment, torture, or any injustice against journalists.

Speakers at the inaugural ceremony said,

"The media is the fourth pillar of the state. Yet, the journalists who work tirelessly to strengthen this pillar are today victims of financial uncertainty. The main goal of the Journalists' Unity Council (SAOP) is to ensure the professional dignity and livelihood security of journalists."

Journalists from various print, electronic, and online media outlets of the country were present at the event. They expressed hope that SAOP would play an effective role in protecting the rights of journalists and set a new example in the media sector.

The organization announced that detailed programs and future plans would be released soon.