Defamatory, ill-motivated
Journalists leaders have said seeking bank account details of 11 of them is "unprecedented, defamatory, and ill-motivated".
Speaking at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday, they said such a move by Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of Bangladesh Bank is an "attempt to put the media face to face with the government".
On September 12, the BFIU issued letters to all banks seeking details of bank accounts belonging to 11 journalists who head different journalist platforms.
Leaders of Jatiya Press Club, two factions of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) were present at the press conference.
Making a statement on behalf of the 11 journalists, DRU General Secretary Mosiur Rahman Khan said, "What is the reason behind circulating the news of seeking details of journalist leaders' bank accounts even before getting the requested information? Such a move by BFIU has tarnished the image of journalists, our organisation and journalism.
"We protest this move and demand specific and detailed explanation from the government on this matter," he added.
Nine out of the 11 journalist leaders were present at the conference.
Jatiya Press Club President Farida Yasmin said, "When they sought details of my bank account, they didn't just stain the image of Farida Yasmin, they tarnished the image of the entire Jatiya Press Club. Because we have been elected by all journalists and we represent the entire journalist community of the country."
M Abdullah, president of a BFUJ faction, said: "Journalists have already been struggling to save their profession during this pandemic. Many journalists have lost their jobs and many others are not getting salaries regularly. We, the journalist leaders, are trying hard to keep them motivated. Such a move in this circumstance will certainly create an unhealthy and alarming environment for journalists."
However, the journalist leaders also demanded the bank account information of the 11 journalists be disclosed in the media.
Molla Jalal, president of another BFUJ faction, said: "We would like to state that if they get any information about the involvement of any of us in money laundering, illegal transaction or financing militancy, such information should be published in the media transparently."
"However, if they do not get information about any such activities, this information should be circulated through the media as well," he added.
Farida said the BFIU is mandated to investigate any individual or organisation if there are specific allegations against them about financial irregularities. "However, there was not a single such allegation against these leaders."
Terming such a move by BFIU "unprecedented", she called upon journalists to investigate into what led them to take such a step.
"We believe that our prime minister is very friendly towards journalists and this move is part of a conspiracy to put the media face to face with the government," the press club president added.
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