Dhaka: Journalists have access to Bangladesh Bank. But they are not able to enter the Central Bank for the purpose of collecting news for the last one month.
In protest of this, a meeting with the Governor of Bangladesh Bank and the journalists of Bank Beat held a sit-in program at the main gate of the central bank in Motijheel.
The meeting and location program was held on Thursday (April 25) from 11 am.
Mainly due to the publication of news of irregularities and corruption in the banking sector, the regulatory body restricted the free entry of journalists.
According to the journalists of Bank Bit, the news of irregularities and corruption of some banks has been published in the media recently. Bangladesh Bank got angry and imposed restrictions on the entry of journalists. The organization has taken this decision several times before.
Journalist Jihadul Haque and Zainal Abedin Khan of Bank Bit said, “Although we performed our professional duties smoothly, the entry was suddenly restricted in the middle of March.” Previously, Bangladesh Bank could be entered with a specific card by identifying the journalist at the reception in the central bank. Since last month, free access to banks in Bangladesh has been stopped. They are facing obstacles in collecting information from a professional point of view.
Earlier, the spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank. Sirajul Islam held a press conference and informed about the organization’s position. Access was then restricted to his office only.
To resolve the issue, Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) President Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha and General Secretary Abul Kashem held a meeting with Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rauf Talukdar at around 11:00 AM. At the same time, Bank Beat journalists staged a sit-in at the central bank’s main gate. However, the meeting ended without a decision on access.
After the meeting with the governor, ERF president Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha and general secretary Abul Kashem said that the governor will consider the issue of journalists’ access after the workshop to be held on May 8.
After the meeting and program, the Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank Mejbaul Haque spoke to the journalists of Bit. At this time, he said, the central bank has decided that from now on, journalists can meet the official of the bank only on the basis of the pass given by the official of the bank. In response, the journalists referred to the issue as unrealistic and a hindrance to the flow of information.
Bangladesh Time: 1802 hours, April 25, 2025
ZA/MJ
