The Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) has alleged that Bangladesh Bank is giving misleading information about the ban on entry of journalists to the central bank.
ERF president Refayet Ullah Mirdha and general secretary Abul Kashem raised the allegation at in a press conference at ERF office on Monday. Other executive committee members and reporters were present on the occasion.
ERF said the government is talking tall about ensuring free flow of information. However, breaking the 53-year tradition, Bangladesh Bank (BB) has suddenly banned the entry of journalists to its head office which is contrary to the governments stated position.
From March 21, Bangladesh Bank has banned the entry in writing. The ERF leaders said they have already met with the BB governor seeking a solution on the ban which is impeding reporters from carrying out their professional duty.
The ERF president said despite many requests including two rounds of letters, Bangladesh Bank is not taking any remedial step even after almost two months of the ban. Moreover various misinformation is now at work instead of removing the ban.
Earlier, journalists could enter Bangladesh Bank by showing their identity cards. Now the system has been withdrawn while various rumors have been let lose.
Refayet said "We want to know if any disciplinary breach had happened in the central bank involving reporters or incidents are happening in the central bank that the BB authorities want to hide from the media."
The ERF leaders said economic reporters keep the nation informed about the nation economic health. Banning access to economic reporters means keeping the nation in the dark. They raised the question what the BB governor want to hide; it may be money laundering or mismanagement of reserves or in-house break. Why he is banning reporters from access.
Many outstanding governors served Bangladesh Bank in the past and they never took journalists as harmful. They said reporting through taking brief from information officer or using materials in the BB website does not provide the total picture and also often misleading.
They have raised the question whose interest the current governor is trying to serve. Any bad policy that puts a bigger strain on the economy will fall on the entire nation.
In such a situation, the ERF leaders hoped that BB will ensure free access to information as before and lift the bank on journalists to the Central Bank forthwith.
