Journos to get limited access to Secretariat from today

Just two days after suspending journalists’ entry to the Secretariat, the government yesterday said they would get limited access there from today.

“Journalists will be granted limited access to the Secretariat from tomorrow [Monday]. Restrictions were imposed to ensure a proper investigation of the recent fire incident,” said Nahid Islam, information and broadcasting adviser, while speaking to reporters in front of the Secretariat yesterday.

“Over 3,000 accreditation cards have been issued to journalists, but many of them are reportedly held by non-professionals. This has necessitated a review and reassessment of the accreditation policy.”

Explaining their decision about the restriction, Nahid said that using the names of name-only newspapers, some individuals have gained access to the Secretariat with accreditation cards.

This issue needs thorough evaluation and examination, which will require some time, he added.

The adviser also mentioned plans to introduce permanent passes for journalists based on new applications. “Until then, a limited number of temporary passes will be issued. All previous passes will be invalidated, and changes will be made to the accreditation policy.”

Asked about the criteria for getting temporary passes, he stated, “We will consult with journalist associations and media offices in this regard.”

Responding to a query from journalists regarding accreditation cards, Azad Mazumder, chief adviser’s deputy press secretary, yesterday said, “All the existing cards remain valid. No card has been cancelled. Until new cards are issued, these cards will remain valid.”

Talking to reporters in front of state guesthouse Jumna, he said that around 2,900 cards are currently active. However, the government is not entirely sure who are using the cards. It is believed that, apart from genuine journalists, many are using the cards for lobbying and other activities within the Secretariat. Besides, many political activists who are not journalists also hold these cards, Azad added.

For this, the government has decided that only genuine journalists should hold these cards so that they can carry out their work, he said.

It is necessary to make decisions regarding those who falsely claim to be journalists, Azad said, adding that this is the reason behind the decision to review the cards.

Meanwhile, the Press Information Department (PID) yesterday said that it was clarified that entry to the Secretariat was restricted after a devastating fire broke out in Building-7. Visitors and journalists were temporarily barred from entry to facilitate the fire probe.

The information and broadcasting ministry is now reassessing the old accreditation cards, and new permanent or temporary passes will be issued shortly, PID said in a press release.

In another development, a 21-member delegation of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF), led by its President Fosih Uddin Mahtab and General Secretary Masudul Haque, yesterday met Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at his ministry office.

During the meeting, the adviser confirmed that journalists covering the Secretariat beat, including BSRF members, would be granted temporary passes from today, said a statement of BSRF.

On Friday night, the home ministry announced that access to the Secretariat was barred for journalists and other non-government visitors.