Journos demanded silence from central bank governor

TDS DESK:

Finance Minister (FinMin) Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali declined to allow Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder speak at a post-budget press conference on Friday after journalists threatened to boycott the briefing if they had to listen to Talukder.

The journalists demanded silence from the BB chief in protest against his decision to restrict media entry to the central bank premises.

Instead of Talukder, Economic Affairs Advisor to the PM Dr Mashiur Rahman and Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder provided answers on banking related questions to the reporters, as permitted by the finance minister.

Earlier, on behalf of the journalists, President of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha addressed the Finance Minister and said, “The Governor of Bangladesh Bank has banned journalists from entering the bank. As a result, we have decided that none of us will listen to his speech. We request that you ensure he does not deliver any speech here. If the Governor speaks, we will boycott the press conference.”

Industry Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Planning Minister Major General (Retd) Abdus Salam, Housing and Public Works Minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, Agriculture Minister Md. Abdus Shahid, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain, Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder, and Finance Secretary Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, among others, were present at the press conference.