Rejoinder (2025-08-20)

The Financial Express (FE) on August 06 published a news item titled, "Gas-drilling payment dispute: Int'l Court asks BAPEX to pay $42m to foreign oil company," on its front page.
However, the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX) in a rejoinder issued on August 11, said, "We strongly oppose this."
The BAPEX also claimed that the reference in the report to the managing director is not based on facts. Besides, it said none had talked to the FE on behalf of the company on the issue.
The BAPEX rejoinder asked the FE to refrain from publishing any news without its prior consent.
FE's reply: As far as the BAPEX opposition is concerned, it is not clear what the BAPEX is opposing. Is it the news item or the court order? When it comes to prior permission, this is an audacious suggestion. A newspaper for the sake of objectivity needs to take the views of all sides while making a report, but it is not bound to seek consent or permission from any authority, private or public.