Home minister describes BFIU letter to journalist leaders as unexpected

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday said that he is trying to find out the details relating to the letter the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) recently sent to commercial banks asking accounts information of 11 elected leaders of the journalist community.

“I agree with you what has happened is unexpected,” Assaduzzman said when a delegation of senior journalists met him at his secretariat office, reports UNB.

“I think there has been a misunderstanding and I personally believe that the letter should not have been issued in such a way, '' said the minister while talking to reporters after a meeting with the delegation.

The delegation comprised prime minister's ex-media advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, journalist leaders Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Kuddus Afrad, Abul Kalam Azad, Abdul Jalil Bhuiya, Omar Faruk, Sajjad Alam Khan.

Asaduzzman said he talked to all organisations including National Security Intelligence (NSI), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and Special Branch, Bangladesh Bank to discuss this issue.

He assured the journalists he will sit again with them to find out more about the issue and take action accordingly.

 “Your reputation has been undermined. You are in pain,” the minister said adding that “It has to be ensured that such incident does not occur again”, he said.

Earlier on Thursday Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said journalist leaders have no reason to be worried about their bank account details sought by BFIU.