DHAKA, Jan 30, 2025 (BSS) - Religious affairs ministry today condemned a Facebook post of a female journalist in which she claimed that female journalists were barred from covering the programme of its adviser at Bangladesh-China International Friendship Cenvention Centre (BCIFCC) yesterday.

A press release of the ministry has said the post was given with an ulterior motive and the guest of the programme cannot be hold responsible for any such incident if it’s happened in a programme.

The release said, a Facebook post in the wall of a female journalist came to the notice of the ministry which was shared by many people later on the social media platforms in many ways.

The release said the Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain attended the programme being invited by an organization under the banner of Qawmi Udyokta.

The adviser stayed about 45 minutes in that programme and delivered his speech. He was not aware of preventing any female journalist from entering the venue and no journalist raised any such allegation to him at that time. 

“If the adviser was informed about the matter, he would have certainly took necessary measures to allow the female journalists to cover the programme,” the release said.

 The release further mentioned that it’s certainly a deplorable act if any such incident is happened in the programme. However, it’s not justified in any way to hold responsible the invited guest for any such incident, the release noted.

The ministry press release pointed out that journalists are always invited and welcomed in any programme of the adviser or ministry of the religious affairs and the Religious Affairs Adviser is always extending support to the female journalists to cover his all programme since his joining to the ministry.

The press release said the adviser already allowed many female journalists for interviewing him and the adviser himself or his office never barred any female journalist from doing their duties. 

In future the Religious Affairs Ministry would also continue its support to female journalists to discharge their professional duties, the release confirmed.