Talk show celebrities demand better pay, boycott shows

Recently, a growing number of popular talk show guests have decided to protest their low pay by refusing to appear on television programs unless they are compensated fairly. 

This movement has drawn attention to the issue of honorarium rates, which, according to many of these guests, have remained unchanged for the past 20 years, despite the rising cost of living.

The situation has led at least twenty well-known personalities from talk shows to step back from their regular appearances unless the honorarium is raised to a respectable level. 

These individuals, who have been part of popular talk shows for years, argue that the amount paid to them does not reflect the value of their contributions. 

As one guest put it, while their statements are widely shared across platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and television, they receive minimal compensation for this exposure.

The guests have even written a letter to highlight their concerns, pointing out that despite the massive increase in living expenses, their pay has stayed stagnant. 

They argue that it‍‍`s now a necessity to raise the honorarium to keep up with the times.

As of February 10, several talk show guests have vowed to not appear on any shows if the honorarium is less than 5,000 Taka. 

Among those who have joined the boycott are well-known figures such as Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Abu Alam Shaheed Khan, Zunaid Saki, Rumin Farhana, M.A. Aziz, Mahbub Kamal, Masud Kamal, Golam Murtaza, Dr. Jahedur Rahman, Ashraf Kaiser, Dr. Shakhawat Hossain Saynth, Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, Nurul Haq Nur, Rashed Khan, Imran Saleh Prince, Shahidul Islam Babul, Asaduzzaman Ripon, Nilofar Chowdhury Moni, and Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, among others.

This protest comes at a time when the talk show landscape is undergoing changes, particularly after the significant shifts following the events of August 5. 

The public conversation is now more focused on the guest list changes and the movement for higher pay, raising awareness about the value of these contributors to the media industry.