DHAKA, Dec 29, 2024 (BSS) - The government has decided to review the press accreditation cards issued to journalists, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kamal Azad Majumder said today.

"The government has decided to review the press accreditation cards as it seems that many non-journalists are bearing these press cards," he told a press conference in front of the State Guest House Jamuna here this afternoon.

Azad said no press accreditation card for the entry to Bangladesh Secretariat has been cancelled yet, while the validity of the existing press accreditation cards will remain effective until new cards are issued.

After reviewing the press cards, those will be issued to real journalists so that the non-journalists cannot make journalism questionable by using the cards, he said.

About the restriction on the journalists at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the deputy press secretary said a fire took place in the Secretariat and a probe continues into the incident. 

As the probe is going on there, the Secretariat has become a crime scene and that is why the movement of people has been restricted. "The movement of journalists has been made limited too," he said.

"At this movement, it is a crime scene and the government is conducting probe into the fire incident by giving optimum emphasis on it," he said. 

In conducting the investigation, Azad said, the government has sought cooperation from all, including journalists. 

This is a temporary decision taken to protect the evidences of the inferno, he said, adding that this probe must be fair in the interest of the country as it is related to the national security.

Azad said the government is trying to ensure the journalists' access to the secretariat as soon as possible by even issuing temporary passes and against this backdrop, a decision has been taken today that journalists can enter the secretariat from tomorrow by taking temporary passes.

Primarily, he said, 200 temporary passes will be given to the journalists working in the Secretariat beat. 
 
Besides, he said, the journalists can enter the secretariat by getting passes, like others, from a cell of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
 
Replying a question over the removal of graffiti of Sheikh Hasina, labeled "Monument of Hatred," on a metro pillar near Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Center (TSC), the deputy press secretary said it was a misunderstanding. 

He said the DU authorities will preserve the memories and graffiti of the July-August revolution on the campus.

On the night of December 28, the graffiti of Sheikh Hasina was removed.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad and Assistant Press Secretary Suchismita Tithi were present at the press conference.