The decision to restrict journalists’ access to the Secretariat was taken in view of the safety and security of the Key Point Installation (KPI), which was hit by a devastating fire this week, said the interim government on Saturday.
“The government regrets the inconvenience and seeks cooperation from journalists,” Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said in a statement.
The government will soon review the existing press accreditation cards and invite fresh applications from all the local and international news outlets for the Press Information Department to issue new accreditation cards, he said.
Azad said temporary daily access cards will be issued by respective ministries for any press events.
Meanwhile, Chief Adviser’s Senior Assistant Press Release Foyez Ahammad urged the professional journalists not to get worried, saying the leaders and activists of Chhatra League-Jubo League-Awami League are holding hundreds of accreditation cards like the professional journalists hold.
“Dear professional journalist friends, don’t worry,” he said in a Facebook post.
Foyez claimed that the Awami League regime harassed professional journalists by not issuing them accreditation cards and by canceling cards, but issued hundreds of cards in the names of their leaders and activists in favour of various fake news portals/newspapers.
“It is very difficult to verify these cards one by one. Again, there is no other option but to take immediate action in the recent fire incident at the Secretariat,” he said.
Foyez said professional journalists will get new accreditation cards based on the needs of their organisations very soon.
However, journalism will definitely not stop, even the entry of journalists into the Secretariat will not remain halted, he said, adding that journalists will be able to enter with temporary passes from the ministry concerend.
