This concern was expressed in a statement signed by Online Editors Alliance President Hasan Sharif and General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Sohel on Sunday (December 29).
It said, "We express deep concern over the recent temporary suspension of journalists' access to the Secretariat. We hope that the administration will seriously consider the issue of maintaining fair access to journalists, along with ensuring security and good governance. In this regard, we strongly demand the relevant authorities to provide accreditation to genuine journalists quickly through verification and selection.
The Online Editors Alliance trusts in the constructive steps of the government and calls for a positive decision in this regard. We do not consider the decision to cancel the accreditation of journalists en masse to be well-considered. We call for more caution and sensitivity in taking such decisions in the future.
We firmly believe that close cooperation with the administration is essential to ensure media freedom and the responsible role of journalists. At the same time, we urge the authorities to take necessary steps to quickly ensure that genuine journalists have access to the secretariat.
In addition, the Online Editors Alliance says that ensuring journalists have the opportunity to perform their professional duties is an important part of the free flow of information and protecting democratic values.
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Bangladesh Diary
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