Editors' Forum condemns ban on journalists' entry into BB

The Bangladesh Editors' Forum has condemned the Bangladesh Bank's decision to impose restrictions on journalists' entry into the BB headquarters.

The forum has also demanded free access of journalists to the central bank.

A statement issued on Thursday by the forum leaders said that this unwritten ban on journalists is against independent journalism, democracy, fundamental rights and the constitution.

Signatories to the statement include chief advisor to the forum Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and convener Rafiqul Islam Ratan and member secretary Faruk Ahmed Talukdar.

"For more than a month, journalists from various media have not been able to enter Bangladesh Bank to perform their professional duties. The issuing of temporary passes to journalists has also been stopped due to an unwritten ban from BB top authorities.

Journalists involved in reporting on the economy have been protesting against such a restriction, but the matter has not been resolved so far. The BB authorities have not changed their decision although journalists boycotted the central bank's press conference on May 8 in protest against the restrictions, which is really sad and reprehensible," it reads.

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