Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will appear before the media in the official post-budget press conference as Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has fallen ill.

The finance minister usually takes questions at the official media call the day after the proposed budget is presented in the House.

However, for the first time, the prime minister will brief the media on budget at the event scheduled for 3 pm on Friday at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, according to her itinerary sent to the media from the press wing of the Prime Minister’s Office.

On Thursday (Jun 13), Hasina took over the presentation of the national budget for fiscal 2019-20 as Kamal was struggling with his health.

The distressed finance minister was fumbling from the very beginning of his budget before Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury allowed him to deliver the address sitting down.

In a novel move, Hasina took over from him to complete the address as Kamal continued to struggle throughout the session.