In a departure from tradition, Bangladesh Bank has opted to release its monetary policy statement (MPS) online for the July-December period of FY 2024-25, rather than hosting a press conference. This decision aims to avoid potential boycotts by economic reporters, who have expressed concerns about restricted access in the past.

Saiful Islam, acting spokesperson and Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, confirmed this change, stating that the MPS will be updated online at 3:00 pm on July 18. Previously, the central bank held press conferences where journalists could engage with officials, including the governor and chief economist, on monetary policy and banking sector issues.

Refayet Ullah Mirdha, President of the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF), criticized the move, highlighting previous restrictions on journalist access during MPS events. He emphasized the ERF's stance on demanding unrestricted access for journalists and indicated that unless these access issues are addressed, the ERF will continue to boycott Bangladesh Bank events.