The interim government of Bangladesh has canceled the accreditation cards of journalists, effectively barring them from entering the Secretariat, the administrative hub in Dhaka. This decision was announced following a recent fire at the Secretariat, with the government citing security concerns as the primary reason for the restriction.
The office of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus stated that the move was to ensure the safety and security of the Key Point Installation (KPI), particularly after a devastating fire this week. The Secretariat, located in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, is home to numerous government ministries and agencies, making it a critical point for administrative operations.
Journalists, who previously had access through accreditation cards issued by the Press Information Department, will now have to rely on temporary daily access passes issued by respective ministries for press events. The government has expressed regret for the inconvenience and is seeking cooperation from the media during this period.
This development comes in the wake of political upheaval, where student-led protests led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, leading to the formation of an interim government under Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.