The government has decided to review the press accreditation cards issued to journalists, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kamal Azad Majumder said on Sunday.
"The government has decided to review the press accreditation cards as it seems that many non-journalists are bearing these press cards," he said at a press conference in front of the State Guest House Jamuna.
Azad said that no press accreditation cards for entry into the Bangladesh Secretariat have been cancelled.
He assured that the validity of the existing press accreditation cards will remain effective until new cards are issued.
He further said that after reviewing the press cards, they will be issued exclusively to genuine journalists.
This measure aims to prevent non-journalists from using these cards in a manner that could undermine the credibility of journalism.
Addressing the restrictions on journalists at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the deputy press secretary explained that a fire incident had occurred in the Secretariat, and an investigation into the matter is ongoing.
"As the investigation is underway, the Secretariat has been designated as a crime scene, leading to restricted movement within the premises," he said.
"This limitation extends to journalists as well."
He added: "At this moment, the Secretariat is a crime scene, and the government is prioritizing the investigation into the fire incident with the utmost seriousness."
Azad said that the government is seeking the cooperation of everyone, including journalists, to ensure a fair investigation.
He clarified that the restrictions are temporary and intended to safeguard evidence from the fire.
"This probe is crucial for the country's national security, and the investigation must be conducted impartially," he said.
He also said that the government is working to restore journalists' access to the Secretariat as quickly as possible by issuing temporary passes.
"Starting tomorrow, journalists will be able to enter the Secretariat using temporary passes," Azad said.
Initially, 200 temporary passes will be issued to journalists covering the Secretariat beat.
Additionally, he said that journalists could also obtain passes from a designated cell of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
In response to a question about the removal of graffiti depicting Sheikh Hasina, labelled as the "Monument of Hatred," on a metro pillar near Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Center (TSC), the deputy press secretary described the incident as a misunderstanding.
He assured that the Dhaka University authorities would preserve the memories and graffiti related to the July-August revolution on the campus.
He confirmed that the graffiti of Sheikh Hasina had been removed on Saturday night.