Statement to media: Law officers now have to take AG's permission

Against the backdrop of Deputy Attorney General Imran Ahmed Bhuiyan's press briefing declining to sign a statement regarding Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, the attorney general's office has asked all of its law officers to take permission from the top law officer of the state before making any statement to media.

Md Nasir Uddin, administrative officer at the AG office, issued a notification to this effect on September 5.

In the notification, he requested all the law officers at the attorney general to make any statement to print, electronic or social media about this office issues subject to taking consent and prior permission from the AG.

On September 5, DAG Imran Ahmed Bhuiyan told reporters at a briefing on the Supreme Court premises that the AG's office was preparing a statement protesting the recent letter from global figures about the trial proceedings of Prof Yunus, and he had refused to sign the statement.

Law Minister Anisul Huq and Attorney General AM Amin Uddin expressed serious reactions at his media briefing.

The law minister told reporters at Jatiya Press Club on September 5 that DAG Imran has breached discipline by making the media briefing.

"He is a DAG at the Attorney General's Office. If he has to speak to reporters, he should either resign and speak, or get the attorney general's permission for speaking. He had done neither. He has breached discipline," Anisul said.

The same day, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin told newsmen that DAG Imran intended to make "somebody happy" by talking to reporters.

He also said his office was not making any statement regarding Yunus' trial.

Another DAG SM Fazlul Haque pulled down DAG Imran's nameplate from his office room.