The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has summoned the bank accounts of 21 more journalists, as part of its ongoing investigation into financial activities within the media sector.
The directive was issued on Sunday (5 January), by the financial intelligence wing of the central bank.
Previously, the BFIU had called for the bank details of 12 journalists, signalling a widening scope of financial oversight.
Among the journalists named in the latest list are Saiful Alam, Editor of Daily Jugantor, and Pranab Saha, Chief of News at DBC News. Others include Hasan Zahid Tushar, former Deputy Press Secretary to the former Prime Minister, and M Shamsur Rahman, Chief Editor and CEO of Independent TV, along with Mamun Abdullah, Chief of News, and Animesh Kar, Special Correspondent.
The list further features Md Ruhul Amin Russel, Managing Editor of Bangladesh Pratidin, and Mahmud Hasan, Deputy Editor. Senior Reporter Zafar Ahmed from Daily Khola Kagoj, currently with BanglaNews, and M G Kibria Chowdhury, Editor of Daily Jatiyo Arthoniti, are also included.
Deepak Chowdhury, Chief Reporter of Amader Shomoy and Amader Orthoneeti, Akhil Kumar Poddar, Head of Input at Ekushey TV, and journalist Jhumur Bari of Ekattor TV are among those named. The list extends to Ziadur Rahman, Editor of Ekushey Sangbad.com, Angur Nahar Monty, Special Correspondent at Daily Kalbela, and Nasir Uddin Sathi, Chairman of My TV.
Additional names include Mahmud Al Faisal, Head of News at SA TV, Rashid Kanon, Executive Director of SA TV, and Shahnaz Siddiqui, Senior Reporter at BSS. The BFIU has also requested financial records for Rashed Chowdhury of Ekushey TV and Rama Prasad of Samakal.
The BFIU's letter specifies that details of these individuals’ bank accounts, including their spouses and children, as well as accounts linked to their interests, must be submitted. This includes account opening forms, Know Your Customer (KYC) documents, related records, and a detailed summary of transactions from inception to the present.
This move by the BFIU marks a significant step in scrutinising the financial dealings of media professionals in Bangladesh, reflecting an enhanced regulatory approach towards financial transparency within the sector.
