Journalists boycott BB governor’s speech 

In protest against the recent ban on journalists’ access to Bangladesh Bank, journalists boycotted the speech of Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder at the post-budget press conference of the finance minister on Friday afternoon.

The press conference was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, with Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali delivering the opening remarks.

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.

On behalf of the journalists, President of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha  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”.

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali unveiled a Taka 7,97,000 crore national budget for the next fiscal year (FY25) at Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Thursday.

This is the country’s 53rd budget and the 25th of the Awami League (AL) government in six terms. This budget is the 21st under the rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in different terms.