The government has scrapped the permanent and temporary press accreditation cards of 20 senior journalists including Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Farzana Rupa, and Farida Yasmin. A gazette notification, signed by Md Nizamul Kabir, chief information officer of the Press Information Department under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was issued in this regard. Directorate of Information cancels press accreditation card of fake journalist The gazette reads the accreditation was cancelled under sections 6.9, 6.10, 9.5 and 9.6 of the Press Accreditation Principle-2022. Those accreditation scrapped included former Director General of Press Institute of Bangladesh Jafar Wazed, former press minister Shaban Mahmud, Ekattor Television’s former Chief of editors Mozzamel Haque, Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamal Dutta, Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naem Nizam, ABCnews24.com chief editor Subhash Chandra Singha Roy, Munni Saha and Amadershomoy.com editor Naimul Islam Khan, among others.

Law Minister Anisul Huq assured the Parliament on Sunday (February 25, 2024) that the government is dedicated to safeguarding press freedom and will not impose any restrictions on it. He highlighted upcoming legislation aimed at combating misinformation and fake news without infringing on media freedom. Addressing the Parliament in the absence of the State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Ali Arafat, Huq responded to concerns raised by Jatiya Party MP from Patuakhali, ABM Ruhul Amin Hawladar, regarding the spread of false news by online media outlets. Home Minister expresses hope for swift conclusion of BDR Carnage Case Hawladar questioned the necessity of a law to prohibit such practices, to which Minister Huq reaffirmed the constitutional guarantee of free speech and press freedom. “Law has to be made in that light and with due respect,” he said. He referenced the existing Cyber Security Act, indicating that it, along with forthcoming laws proposed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, aims to address the issue of misinformation responsibly. The government's approach is to prevent confusion and the spread of fake news through appropriate measures, not control, the Law Minister emphasized, ensuring that the press's freedom remains intact. Read more: Information Minister questions countries’ lack of concern when BBC office in India was searched