Bangladesh revokes accreditation of 167 journalists

In Bangladesh, the Editors’ Council has criticized the recent cancellation of press accreditation cards by the Press Information Department (PID), calling it a “direct threat” to press freedom and an impediment to fostering a democratic environment in the country. The PID has revoked the accreditation of 167 journalists in three separate phases.

The Editors’ Council President Mahfuz Anam issued a statement on Tuesday saying, “the list of those affected includes many active and professional journalists, as well as prominent editors, leaving the journalist community alarmed”. The Editors’ Council has pointed out that while the Ministry of Information holds the right to review accreditation in cases of misuse, the broad and sweeping cancellation of press credentials without specific allegations or evidence of wrongdoing is unjustified, the statement said.

The council strongly argued that this action undermines the fundamental principles of free press and threatens to erode the democratic fabric of the nation. The Editors’ Council warned that such actions may pave the way for increased censorship and a more controlled media environment, a scenario that contradicts the core values championed during the July-August uprising. They characterized the move as a troubling recurrence of undemocratic practices reminiscent of previous overly controlling regimes, reports United News of Bangladesh (UNB).

The Editors’ Council urged the Ministry of Information to refrain from such blanket measures. It also demanded stronger steps to ensure independent and democratic journalism in the country. Earlier last week, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed concern over Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus led interim government of Bangladesh’s decision to scrap the permanent and temporary press accreditation cards of 50 journalists. The international organization, which works globally to protect journalists’ rights, said that the interim authorities should not use press accreditation as a weapon to target journalists for their work. Such actions could lead to increased risks of media censorship, warned The CPJ.