Global Finance Certified D- Grade Governor Abdur Rauf Talukder has banned journalists from entering the Bangladesh Bank (BB) as the incidents of publishing news about banking sector irregularities, corruption loan scams and BB’s supervisory activities.
In protest, Bank Bit journalists working in the media staged a sit-in program in front of the BB’s main building yesterday.
More than half a hundred journalists from various media participated in the program from 10:30 to 12:30.
At this time, Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) president Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha and general secretary Abul Kashem went to meet the governor to demand the lifting of the ban on entry of journalists.
After about an hour of discussion, the governor refused the proposal of free access of journalists to BB as before.
Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha came out and told reporters, "I have asked the governor to refrain from taking any action that hinders the flow of information. Banning access of journalists to the BB hinders the sharing of accurate information. We have told the governor to give free access to BB as before.
Abul Kashem said, "Our protest will continue until the ban on journalists' entry is lifted." We hope the good sense of the governor will emerge. The exercise of constitutional rights of journalists shall not be impeded.
The governor has banned the entry of journalists for more than a month.
The usual rule for journalists to enter the central bank is to sign a special 'pass' by writing their identity in the register book kept in the reception section on the ground floor of all buildings.
Journalists can enter any floor by showing that pass. The temporary pass must be returned at the time of exit.
The issue of this pass has been stopped for the past one month on the orders of the governor. Journalists are also being monitored to which officials they are talking to. Four deputy governors, executive directors, directors and officials at all levels have been given unwritten instructions not to speak to journalists.
Daily Bhorer Kagoj Correspondent and Dhaka Reporter Unity Leader Moriom Sejuti, who works with the banking sector, said that the officials are working in a kind of fear, "We have not been able to enter the BB for more than a month. Keep patience for some days, it will be fine, after Eid, journalists will be able to enter as before - so much is being said. But now you think they are just delaying. We are protesting this incident.
"We will continue our program until we get our rights back," she said.
The incident was not limited to the ban on journalist access. The governor's outrageous decision is also sending a message to BB officials.
Daily Samakal's Special Correspondent Obaidullah Roni said, "We are only doing journalism. We have not done any reporting on purpose. If there is objection to any report, he has the opportunity to protest. Barring entry of journalists without doing so is an attack on free journalism.''
Commenting the incident as "unacceptable", SHUJAN, Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said, "Journalism is a profession recognized by the state." As a state institution, BB has the right to access and obtain information. People know information through journalists. What is the governor trying to hide now?
He said, "Transparency, accountability is necessary everywhere. Any action contrary to good governance is not desirable. Denial of access to journalists is unacceptable, it needs to stop.''
Earlier in 2015, after the incident of theft of BB’s reserves came to light, the access of journalists to the central bank was strictly imposed for a few days.
The BB officials withdrew from their positions then in the face of protests from journalists and civil society.
BB Executive Director and Spokesperson Mezbaul Haque told reporters about the Governor's decision to allow journalists to enter. However, if an official gives a pass to journalists, they can only go to that official. But as before, they will not be able to freely enter any department of the BB.
Regarding the meeting with the Governor, ERF said in a statement, ERF has strongly requested the Governor to ensure the right of unhindered access of reporters to all officials of BB for the purpose of gathering information.
The leaders of ERF said that for the past 53 years, reporters have been freely collecting information from BB. They were never barred from entering it. Suddenly blocking the entry of reporters increases the risk of misreporting about the banking sector, which is not desired by any party.
However, according to the only demand of ERF, the governor has refused to immediately withdraw the ban of the BB on the free movement of reporters.
A committee headed by ERF President Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha has been formed to determine what to do to ensure unhindered access to the BB. The ERF will take further action as per the recommendations of this committee.
ZH
