POBNEWS24, Dhaka Jan 14, 2025 : Journalists in Bangladesh have nothing to fear about who said what in the political arena. The media is not being threatened by the government or state agencies. If there is a threat, we will take immediate action. After the July-August revolution, the media is working completely independently during the interim government. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said this in the wake of Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the anti-discrimination student movement in Narayanganj, making a warning statement against the media, intellectuals, and university teachers on Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier, on Monday (January 13) night, Shafiqul Alam exchanged views with members of the Indian media Correspondent Association Bangladesh (IMCAB) in Dhaka. At that time, he said, the accreditation cards of journalists have been temporarily suspended for strategic reasons, I promise you that you will get them back. He said, the media is now able to write more freely than before. They are able to express their opinions.
It is known that after the current interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus took power, there have been attacks on newspaper offices, murder cases have been filed against a large number of journalists, and press accreditation cards of journalists have been canceled in three phases.
Later, the activities of all remaining accreditation cards were suspended.
Earlier, the Directorate of Information (PID) had canceled the press accreditation cards of the last 118 journalists. On November 7, the department’s Chief Information Officer Md. Nizamul Kabir announced this decision.
Among the journalists whose press accreditation cards were canceled are journalists working in various positions, including editors, deputy editors, and television news heads.
In addition, the Directorate of Information canceled the accreditation cards of 20 journalists on October 29 and 29 journalists in the first week of November.
It is worth noting that the Secretariat is the center of administration of the Bangladesh government. Professional media workers have to enter the Secretariat. Passes have already been issued to some media workers selectively from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Chief Information Officer, Nizamul Kabir, told this reporter that working journalists who want to enter the Secretariat will have to apply through PID. The PID applications will be sent to the Home Ministry. It is their business who will pass it. However, it is learned that some passes have been issued by the Secretariat as per the list of the Journalists Forum and the Economic Reporters Forum. So far, no pass has been issued in the name of any journalist working in Indian media.
No previous government has cancelled so many cards or suspended anyone’s accreditation card. Some are commenting that it is a major interference in the freedom of the media. However, some are saying that the way the cards have been issued in the 15 years of the last Sheikh Hasina government is unprecedented. A large number of cards have been issued under the lobbying of bureaucrats, ministers, political leaders and Chhatra League, of which perhaps 20 percent may be professional journalists. Therefore, many have suggested that the cards of those who are not professional journalists should not be suspended but cancelled.
Regarding the religious organization ISKCON, Shafiqul Alam said, “Some people have already raised demands to ban ISKCON in Bangladesh. I think it would not be right to ban any religious organization. If ISKCON’s activities are banned in Bangladesh, many countries in the world will protest.” Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, BNP Press Wing member Saherul Kabir Khan, former director of BJMEA Shovon Islam and other journalist leaders were present at the exchange of views.
