Journalists banned from Secretariat following fire, security cited as key concern: Press Secretary

The government has decided to temporarily ban journalists from entering the Secretariat, citing security concerns after a fire recently damaged the building. 

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, speaking on behalf of the interim government’s Chief Adviser, shared this update through his verified Facebook account today, Saturday.

According to Shafiqul Alam, the move was made "considering the security of the Key Point Installation (KPI) that was damaged in this week’s devastating fire." 

As a result, "the decision has been made to prohibit journalists from entering the Secretariat."

The press secretary further explained that the government plans to review the current press accreditation system soon. “The government will soon review the existing press accreditation cards and invite local and international media outlets to apply for new accreditation cards,” he said.

For the time being, journalists will still have a way to attend important events, but only on a temporary, day-by-day basis. “Meanwhile, relevant ministries will issue temporary daily cards for any event. 

The government apologizes for the inconvenience and seeks the cooperation of journalists,” Alam added.

On Friday, the government had already canceled all temporary passes for private individuals to enter the Secretariat. 

Along with this, press accreditation cards used by journalists to access the area were also suspended until further notice. This effectively means that no private individual, including journalists, can enter the Secretariat at present.

A press release issued Friday night, signed by Md. Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, confirmed this decision. 

The statement said the fire had compromised the security of the Secretariat, leading to the new restrictions.

The release emphasized that, to strengthen security at the Secretariat, all temporary entry passes for private individuals were revoked. 

Only permanent digital passes for government officers and staff and temporary passes for officials would remain valid. 

Journalists’ accreditation cards have also been suspended until further notice.

For those affected, the government has provided a way to reapply for new temporary passes. 

Individuals with revoked passes can apply at a special cell set up by Bangladesh Police at the Crime Command and Control Center, DMP, located at 15 Abdul Gani Road, Dhaka, within the next 15 days.