Farooki’s press conference postponed amid poor turnout

Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s scheduled press conference on reforms at Bangla Academy was postponed on Saturday after only five journalists showed up.

The briefing was set to begin at 2pm at the Bangla Academy premises.

As the time approached, officials from the ministry and Bangla Academy informed the advisor’s office about the limited media turnout.

At 2:30pm, Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam told the journalists present that the press conference would now begin at 3pm.

However, with no additional attendees by 3:30pm, Azam officially announced the event’s postponement.

The director general said, “As the presence of journalists was not as expected, we have to postpone the press conference today. The journalists will be informed once the new date is fixed."

Cultural affairs ministry Deputy Secretary Khalid Hossain said the invitation to the media briefing was sent by the ministry.

However, journalists from several media outlets said they had not received information about the event.

Daily Samakal journalist Drohi Tara, present at the briefing, told bdnews24.com: “I was not informed about the press conference by the ministry. I came here after learning about it through other means.”

According to her, most briefings held by the cultural affairs ministry take place at the Secretariat, but journalists covering the cultural beat are often not informed.

This has created a sense of distance between the ministry and journalists, evident in the media briefing, she added.