Summary:
- The Bangladesh government has suspended all temporary entry passes and journalists’ accreditation cards to the Secretariat due to security concerns following a recent fire incident.
- Special Assistant Khuda Baksh Chowdhury announced that only permanent Digital Access Control System pass holders and government employees with valid passes will be allowed entry.
- Affected individuals have a 15-day window to apply for new temporary passes through the special cell at Bangladesh Police Crime Command and Control Center.
- The restrictions are temporary, with plans for a meeting between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to resolve journalists’ access issues.
The Bangladesh government has implemented stringent security measures at the Secretariat, suspending all temporary entry passes and journalists’ accreditation cards following a recent fire incident. The directive, effective immediately, marks a significant change in access protocols at the nation’s administrative headquarters.
Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, special assistant to the chief adviser for Home Affairs, issued the notification announcing these comprehensive restrictions. The order specifically targets all temporary entry passes previously issued to private individuals, while maintaining access for holders of permanent passes under the Digital Access Control System and government personnel with valid temporary passes.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has emphasized that these restrictions are temporary, particularly concerning journalists’ access. “A meeting with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be held soon to reach a positive resolution,” stated Faisal Hasan, the senior public relations officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The security measures were prompted by a fire that broke out at Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Abdul Gani Road in Dhaka at 1:50 AM. The incident has triggered a thorough investigation and led to enhanced security protocols across the facility.
For those affected by these restrictions, the government has established a 15-day window to apply for new temporary entry passes. Applications will be processed through a special cell at the Bangladesh Police Crime Command and Control Center, located at 15 Abdul Gani Road, DMP.
The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has confirmed that while journalists’ accreditation cards have not been permanently cancelled, their use within the Secretariat premises has been temporarily restricted. The government plans to issue new temporary passes following a comprehensive security review.
This development represents the most extensive access restriction implemented at the Secretariat in recent times, reflecting heightened security concerns in the wake of the fire incident. The measure affects a broad spectrum of individuals, from regular visitors to media personnel, who routinely conduct business at the nation’s administrative center.
