Secretariat fire: Initial probe report submission to CA tomorrow
Some evidence might be sent abroad for testing
The initial probe report on the devastating fire at the Bangladesh Secretariat last week is set to be submitted tomorrow to Chief Adviser (CA) Prof Muhammad Yunus, his Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said today (29 December).
"The probe committee told us that they have collected a good amount of evidence. Some of those are being tested in the country. If they deem it necessary, they will send some of the evidence abroad for testing," Azad said at a press briefing in front of the State Guest House Jamuna, the official residence of the CA.
Replying to a question on whether the report will be published or not, he said, "The report will be submitted to the CA. He will decide whether it will be published or not."
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Speaking about cancelling the accreditation cards to journalists for entering the secretariat, Azad said 200 journalists will be able to enter the secretariat using the temporary passes from tomorrow.
Of them, 160 passes will be given to journalists covering the secretariat and 40 to cameramen working for various TV channels. Passes can also be collected from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's (DMP) cell, he added.
Journalists who cover the secretariat and government officials with temporary passes were barred from entering the premises this morning, following a government decision -- citing security reasons -- to cancel the passes and restrict access through media persons' accreditation cards until further notice.
Various journalists' associations harshly criticised the move, which came after a massive fire gutted four floors -- six, seven, eight, and nine -- of building 7 at the secretariat on Thursday (26 December).
The government later announced that temporary passes would be issued to the journalists.
A day after restricting entry to the secretariat, the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday formed a special cell aiming to process applications for temporary entry passes.
The order said that applications for temporary entry passes can be received at the DMP' Crime Command and Control Center, located on the opposite side of the secretariat.
Earlier today, after a meeting with the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters' Forum, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that journalists will be allowed to enter the secretariat with temporary passes from tomorrow for the next 15 days.
After that, they will be able to enter the premises with permanent passes, he added.
Talking to journalists in front of the secretariat around the same time, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam also confirmed the matter.
