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Talk to newsmen with caution: BB asks officials

Julfikar Ali Manik
In a rare move, the central bank has restricted its officials from providing information to journalists.
The move came as media reports on loan scams in the banking sector appeared as a major concern for the Bangladesh Bank.
The BB issued the instruction verbally and in a written internal notice on September 16.
"I have never seen such an office order in my career,” said a BB official who has long been with the central bank.
Although the notice did not specify the issues of any news item, the instruction came after month-long widespread news coverage on the biggest-ever loan scam, known as the Hall-Mark scandal that involves state-owned Sonali Bank.
Hall-Mark and five other companies swindled more than Tk 3,500 crore out of the bank on forged documents.
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The notice signed by a general manager said: "It has been observed recently that some sensational news reports on Bangladesh Bank are being published and publicised.”
“So some complications are arising in the official work of the Bank.”
Executive Director SM Moniruzzaman has been assigned to provide information to the media on behalf of the BB, according to the notice.
"Moreover responsible general managers and executive directors of concerned issues can give statements on behalf of Bangladesh Bank with prior approval from the proper authority," said the order, adding, "Suggestions have been given to all to take special cautionary measures in this regard."
Before issuing the order, the high-ups of the central bank verbally cautioned its officials against giving information to newsmen, said the BB official.
The official also said he was disappointed and worried about such an attitude of the BB management which was known as press friendly.
In June, the Anti-Corruption Commission imposed restrictions on the media's access to its office. High-ups of the graft watchdog had instructed its officials not to allow journalists in.
The commission's instruction came against the backdrop of news coverage on a World Bank report that found "evidence of corruption" in the Padma bridge project.
The ACC in 2007, during the caretaker government's regime, gave a similar instruction to its officials. The instruction remained effective until