Election Commission (EC) has decided to issue press cards manually in addition to the existing online system for journalists covering the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the decision on Thursday while briefing reporters, saying the commission had agreed in principle to reintroduce the manual process following demands from journalists.
He explained that media professionals whose online applications have already been approved will receive their press cards through the digital system. However, journalists who have not yet applied online will be able to obtain press cards manually once the process begins. The EC will shortly announce the start date of manual issuance, he added.
Earlier in the day, leaders of several journalist organisations met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, urging the commission to simplify the press card issuance process, citing technical and procedural difficulties with the newly introduced online platform.
The meeting was organised by the Reporters Forum for Election & Democracy (RFED) and was attended by representatives of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Broadcast Journalist Centre (BJC) and Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF).
Acknowledging the concerns, the CEC admitted the online system was not user-friendly and said challenges were expected as it was being used for the first time. He expressed optimism that the issues would be resolved soon.
Leaders from the journalist bodies, including DUJ President Shahidul Islam, DUJ General Secretary Khurshid Alam, RFED President Kazi Jabel, BJC Chairman Rezwanul Haque Raza and BSRF President Masudul Hoque, took part in the discussion, which was moderated by RFED General Secretary Golam Rabbani.
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