Government has decided to allow journalists to enter the secretariat with temporary passes from tomorrow (Dec 30) for the next 15 days.
After that, they will be able to enter the premises with permanent passes, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said today (Dec 29), reports TBS.
Talking to journalists in front of the secretariat around 1:45 pm, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam also confirmed the matter.
Earlier around 12:30 pm on Sunday, a 21-member delegation of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters' Forum (BSRF) led by the organisation's President Fasih Uddin Mahtab and General Secretary Masudul Haque held a meeting with the Home Adviser at the secretariat.
After the meeting, the adviser made the announcement regarding the temporary passes.
Apart from Fasih and Masudul, other senior leaders and members of BSRF were present during the meeting.
Journalists who cover the secretariat and government officials with temporary passes were barred from entering the premises this morning, following a government decision to cancel all temporary passes and restrict access through media persons' accreditation cards until further notice.
Various journalists' associations harshly criticised the move, which came after a massive fire gutted four floors of building 7 at the secretariat on Thursday (Dec 26).
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
