(MW/IFEX) – On 26 July, 1998, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry issued an order denying any journalist entry onto the Ministry’s premises. After a meeting of the top-ranking officers of the Ministry, it was decided that no officer of the Ministry will talk to any journalist regarding their professional requests. The Ministry also ignored the journalists’ […]
(MW/IFEX) – On 26 July, 1998, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry issued an
order denying any journalist entry onto the Ministry’s premises. After a
meeting of the top-ranking officers of the Ministry, it was decided that no
officer of the Ministry will talk to any journalist regarding their
professional requests. The Ministry also ignored the journalists’
accreditation cards (the card issued by the government after a long-term
investigation) and ordered the journalists to get a special pass from
Ministry officials before entering the area.
The decision came out after the publication of two news items in local
media: one is related to an agreement which was supposed to be signed with
United States of America, called the Status of Forces Agreement, and the
other regards pressure from the United States Government to Bangladesh to
hand over the exploration work of the “Oil & Gas” field to a U.S. oil
company.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Appeals To
The Honourable Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
also in charge of the Information Ministry
Fax: +880 2813244/ 811015/ 813243Mr. Abdus samad Azad
Honourable Foreign Minister
Mr. Mustafizur Rahman
Secretary
Fax: +880-2-867448
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
