Journalists will now get a single type of press accreditation card valid for three years, replacing the previous system of separate permanent and temporary cards.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an office order regarding the new Press Accreditation Committee on Sunday, appointing chief information officer of the Directorate of Information as its chairman.
The official members of the body include director general of the Public Diplomacy Wing of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, director general of Department of Films and Publications, deputy secretary (press-2) of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and deputy secretary of Secretariat Security Branch of Ministry of Home Affairs.
The committee includes several journalist members, namely Atiqur Rahman Rumon, editor of daily Dinkal and additional press aecretary to the prime minister; Quader Gani Chowdhury, secretary general of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ); and Khurshid Alam, general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).
Other members are Md Shafiqul Islam, CEO and head of news of Ekattor Television, and Umme Marufa, special correspondent of News24 Television. The senior deputy chief information officer (protocol) of Directorate of Information will act as the member secretary of the committee.
According to the office order, the committee is tasked with overseeing the issuance of press accreditation cards, addressing objections and complaints, conducting hearings when necessary, and settling related disputes.
Additionally, the committee is authorised to recommend necessary additions, amendments, and revisions to the Press Accreditation Policy 2025.
