The Department of Information has opened up applications form the reconsideration of journalists’ press accreditation cards which had been cancelled previously for various reasons.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the department stated, “For this purpose, applications must be submitted in the prescribed form to the Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee will verify the applications and issue new cards or take necessary decisions accordingly.”
It further added, “Those whose press accreditation cards were previously cancelled by the Department of Information for various reasons can now apply in the prescribed form to the Press Accreditation Appeals Committee for reconsideration according to the Press Accreditation Policy 2025. The prescribed application form can be downloaded from the Department of Information’s website.”
The government’s Ministry of Information issues press accreditation cards for journalists in Bangladesh. The card essentially functions as a form of authorisation that allows journalists access to specific places or government events.
After the fall of the Awami League government in 2024, the interim government cancelled permanent and temporary press accreditation cards of over 167 journalists in three phases between October and November. This matter sparked widespread criticism at the time.
A few days later, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that entry to the Secretariat using any accreditation cards issued to journalists had been cancelled. At the time, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing stated that journalists would receive regular temporary access passes from the concerned ministries for events.
Subsequently, although a temporary list for journalists was created, there was significant long-term suffering that journalists had to ensure in order due to the lack of accreditation cards.
