The tradition of finance ministers briefing reporters, after meetings of Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase and Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, is coming to an end.
The Cabinet Division has told incumbent Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali that such briefings are a violation of the law, as they breach of government secrets.
According to insiders, the Cabinet Division told Mahmood that former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal organised such briefings under his own initiative, which violated laws. Such briefings by finance ministers were non-existent before that, the division said.
However, media officials who have been covering the Finance Division and Finance Ministry news for years say Abul Maal Abdul Muhith – who served as the finance minister of Bangladesh for two terms before AHM Mustafa Kamal – also held similar briefings.
Saifur Rahman, who had served the same role before Muhith, used to hold briefings as well.
But AHM Mustafa Kamal could not hold regular briefings due to his physical illness. Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Dr Shahida Akhtar used to fill in for Kamal’s absence. Dr Akhtar was later put on OSD for disclosing confidential Covid vaccine price at a press conference.
Cabinet Division sources say though Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali has been discouraged from holding press briefings, an additional secretary will brief reporters after meetings of Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase and Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
A finance division official, on condition of anonymity, said, “If a minister’s briefing breaks the law, wouldn’t an additional secretary’s briefing do the same?”
Commenting on the matter, a number of veteran media professionals say former finance minister Saifur Rahman started speaking to reporters after meetings of Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase and Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
Initially, he used to speak to the media outside the meeting venue, but later started holding briefings at the meeting room. This tradition remained alive until the tenure of AHM Mustafa Kamal.
Commenting on the matter, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists former president and senior journalist Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul said, “A briefing by a finance minister provides a lot of information, but a briefing by an additional secretary may not provide the necessary facts.
“However, this does not mean that information will remain a secret. The journalists will get the info they need somehow.”
He continued, “The journalists may have to use alternative sources, and this may distort the information a bit. Any distortion will not bring any good outcome for the government or the public. Finance minister’s briefing is beneficial for both parties.
“The Cabinet Division has shut down such briefings citing law as an excuse. I do not know which law they are referencing. The division should disclose this law, as we want to see what this law says.”
