Media identity being used for political gains: Bangladesh mission to UN

Bangladesh’s permanent mission to the United Nations has objected to people enjoying UN media accreditation despite their ‘active’ political roles and affiliations.

New York correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 23 Feb 2015, 11:44 AM
Updated : 23 Feb 2015, 12:15 PM

“If active politicians are given media cards, there will be nothing left to say,” the mission’s Press Secretary Bijon Lal Deb told bdnews24.com on Saturday, confirming that he had sent the letter.

The BNP’s Foreign Affairs Committee member Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari’s participation in various programmes as a ‘journalist’ prompted the mission to write to the UN.

Ansari is a regularly attends programmes of the BNP, its youth wing Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, and other affiliates in New York and Pennsylvania as the chief, special or an honourable guest.

He also attends UN and US State Department events as a journalist.

Such activities by Fazal Ansari have been a source of embarrassment for other Bangladeshi journalists in New York.

His activities have been criticised in articles published in New York-based Bangla dailies.

According to the UN Department for Public Information, the card of anyone misusing media accreditation can be seized.

Moreover, clearance from the Bangladesh consulate in New York is needed to apply for the Foreign Press Centre’s Media Credential of the US Department of State.

The BNP leader identifies himself as the editor of a news portal called justnewsbd.com.

NY journalists confirmed that he used that identity to get clearance from the consulate and the Bangladesh’s UN mission.

Bijon Lal Deb said, “He is staying in New York and using his journalist identity to serve his party.”

Following publication of news on this regard, Fazal Ansari called bdnews24.com’s correspondent to clarify his position and said he saw nothing wrong in being a journalist and a supporter of a political party at the same time.

He claimed to be a member of the UN Correspondent’s Association, the National Press Club, and a journalist with Bangladesh government accreditation.

“Many Bangladeshi journalists are supporters of various political parties. What is the problem, if I speak as a supporter in a BNP programme? Many journalist leaders speak at Awami League programmes.”