A new policy on press accreditation cards is set to be finalised within a week, extending the validity of each card to at least three years, replacing the existing system of issuing both permanent and temporary accreditation cards.
“The key aspect of the new policy is that there will no longer be distinctions between permanent and temporary cards,” CA’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told reporters during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday.
CA’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad and Assistant Press Secretary Suchismita Tithi were also present.
Azad mentioned that a consultative meeting was held with journalist bodies, where most participants supported the idea of issuing a single type of accreditation card with a minimum validity of three years. “The government has accepted this proposal,” he added.
Committee formed to reevaluate Press Accreditation Policy 2022
A committee has been formed to formulate the new accreditation card policy, following the directives of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
The committee will propose necessary measures to ensure press freedom.
Under the proposed policy, a news organisation will be allowed to receive accreditation cards for up to 30% of its journalists, with a maximum limit of 15 per media outlet.
Regarding freelance journalists, Azad said the new policy recommends that freelancers must have at least 20 years of experience in journalism or be actively working on press issues to qualify for accreditation.
Once the committee submits its recommendations, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, along with journalist representatives, will finalise the policy.
The deputy press secretary said several sections of the latest 2022 accreditation policy contain objectionable provisions, so the committee will recommend cancelling those.
No journalist’s accreditation card cancelled: Deputy Press Secretary
There is a provision in existing policy that the government's development works must be promoted, which is against free and independent journalism, he said, adding that it will be recommended to be removed.
Azad said the existing policy states that journalists have to inform some government agencies when they go abroad. "This is extremely insulting. There will be a recommendation to cancel it," he said.
Earlier, the principal information officer used to issue accreditation cards. This time a committee, to be formed with various organisations, including journalists, will take the final decision.
For the district level journalists, a system will be recommended to issue cards to them from districts, Azad said.
The principal information officer could cancel the accreditation card only if there was a criminal case, he said, adding that now, if there is a criminal case against a journalist, his or her card will not be cancelled until the verdict of the case is not made against the journalist.
OCAB demands withdrawal of cancellation of accreditation for journalists
He, however, said if a final chargesheet is filed against the accused journalist, the committee will suspend his or her card.
Azad said the cards of 167 journalists have been cancelled and of them, only seven have applied for reconsideration of their cards.