Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) reacts to Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam remark

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) on Sunday blasted Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam for questing Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya’s ‘right to comment’ on the budget proposals on behalf of the Dhaka-based think-tank.

Speaking at a discussion on Saturday, the minister said Debapriya had no right to make such comments as he had made under the banner of the CPD.

“Usually, the CPD chief executive makes such remarks after every budget. It’s not Debapriya, but Mustafizur Rahman who is the chief executive of the CPD. Debapriya is a former chief executive of the CPD. So, he has no right to make such comments on behalf of the CPD,” Ashraf mentioned.

The CPD in a press statement on Sunday said, “In view of this, CPD would like to make it clear that it is the prerogative of the CPD management to decide who will present CPD’s analysis on behalf of the team.”

It added Debapriya is a distinguished fellow of the CPD and his presentation at the media briefing held by CPD on June 7th was based on CPD’s assessment of the Budget FY2014 which was prepared by the team of professionals at the think-tank.

Presentation and observations made by Dr Bhattacharya at the media briefing reflected the views of the entire team which also includes the executive director, CPD. CPD’s assessment of macroeconomic performance and budgetary proposals are always prepared through evidence-based analysis which has also been the case with the aforesaid budget analysis, the press release said.