Shafiqul Islam (Shafiq)
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that the letter asking for bank accounts of journalist leaders was unexpected. He said this while exchanging views with journalist leaders in the conference room of the Home Ministry on Monday morning. “I totally agree with you,” he said. The incidents have happened unexpectedly. In fact, I did not know. Even the Information Minister does not seem to know anything.
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said I have talked to the governor of Bangladesh Bank about how this incident happened. He also spoke of a letter like yours. I have seen the origin of that letter. I think the letter went through a misunderstanding. I personally think the letter should not have been given like this.

We are observing much about it. I will take action later knowing what happened from where. The Home Minister termed the letter of Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) summoning the bank accounts of 11 journalist leaders as unexpected. He said of course, your reputation has been tarnished. You are sad, you are in pain. We can’t do anything in that place, but we will make sure that it doesn’t happen in the future. “I am talking to everyone,” the minister said. I am talking with NSI, CID, SB, Bangladesh Bank and others. I will sit with them. So that such incidents do not happen again, I will see them.

At that time, the journalist leaders said, everyone’s bank account can be demanded in the name of the person. The government can hold everyone’s account. But the identity of the leader of the journalist organization has been sought.

The identity of the organization was sought without informing the policy makers of the government. It was not immediately clear what the agency wanted. What was found when requested has to be made public.

Among the journalists present at the time were Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, journalist leaders Abul Kalam Azad, Quddus Afrad, Sajjad Hossain Tapu, Omar Farooq and others.

Note that the President of the National Press Club Farida Yasmin, General Secretary Ilias Khan, President of the Dhaka Journalists Union (BNP supported) Abdul Quader Gani Chowdhury and General Secretary Shahidul Islam, Dhaka Journalists Union (Awami League-backed) General Secretary Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu, Dhaka Federal Union of Journalists (BNP-backed) President M Abdullah, Secretary General Nurul Amin Rokon, Dhaka Federal Union of Journalists President (Awami League-backed) Mollah Jalal, Acting Secretary General Abdul Majid, Dhaka Reporters Unity president Morsalin Nomani and general secretary Mashiur Rahman Khan’s bank accounts have been summoned.