Secretariat fire: Restriction on journo’s entry temporary

After journalists expressed outrage over the decision to curb their access to the hub of bureaucracy, the home ministry yesterday stated that restricting journalists' entry to the Secretariat was a temporary measure taken for the sake of ongoing investigations into Thursday's fire.

The journalists expressed their dismay on social media and a faction of Dhaka Union of Journalists termed the restriction "a threat to independent journalism".

A press release of the home ministry said a "positive decision" will be made in this regard upon discussions with the ministry of information.

 Meanwhile, the chief adviser's press wing yesterday said access to the secretariat has been restricted "in view of the safety and security of the key point installation."

 A devastating fire ravaged parts of Building-7 at the Secretariat complex for almost 10 hours on Thursday.

 A firefighter died after being hit by a truck while carrying a hose pipe across Abdul Gani Road at the time.

 According to the press wing, the government will soon review the accreditation cards issued to journalists and invite fresh applications from local and international news outlets.

 According to an office order of the home ministry, a special cell has been formed at the Crime and Control Center to review applications for temporary entry passes to the Secretariat.

 In another development, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, deputy press secretary to the chief adviser, said no journalist's press accreditation card had been cancelled following the fire.

 "Some people ask the government to be tough and then create a ruckus when it becomes even slightly tough. This must stop. This double standard has started again regarding the restriction on journalists' access to the secretariat," Azad wrote on Facebook yesterday.

 "It's an open secret that the Bangladesh Secretariat turned into a marketplace for middlemen. No one except those people should have any reason to be worried about the government's latest decision.

 "We believe this will make journalists' jobs easier. Even though there might be temporary inconveniences, it will ultimately benefit everyone. That's why everyone's cooperation is being sought."

 On Friday night, the home ministry in a media statement said entry to the secretariat for all, except the secretariat staff and government employees, was banned for an indefinite period.

 Even journalists with accreditation cards will not be able to enter the building until further notice, it read.

 In the interest of increasing the overall security of the secretariat, all types of temporary entry passes issued to non-government employees have been cancelled, it said.