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, reports bdnews24.com.

"If active politicians are given media cards, there will be nothing left to say," the mission's Press Secretary Bijon Lal Deb news agency 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 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.