The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has condemned the cancellation of Channel One reporter Habibur Rahman’s press accreditation, calling it a concern for press freedom and independent journalism.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, party's Assistant Secretary General and Secretary of its Central Publicity and Media Department Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, said press freedom is one of the fundamental pillars of a democratic state and that cancelling a journalist’s accreditation without citing a reason raises serious concerns about freedom of expression and independent journalism.

“Accountability, transparency and good governance cannot be ensured without a free, impartial and responsible media,” he said.

“If the authorities disagree with any news report or publication, they should follow existing laws and fair procedures to seek redress,” Zubair said. “But cancelling a media outlet’s accreditation by exercising administrative power can create fear and uncertainty among journalists in carrying out their professional duties independently.”

Zubair said Jamaat-e-Islami supports media freedom, freedom of expression, civil liberties and democratic values, and urged the authorities to ensure that journalists and media workers can perform their professional duties without obstruction or intimidation.

He also called on the relevant authorities to protect the public’s right to information and journalists’ professional independence.

“I urge the government to reconsider the decision to cancel Channel One’s accreditation and resolve the matter through a transparent, impartial and lawful process,” he said.

The statement came after Netra News reported on Tuesday that Channel One reporter Habibur Rahman had his Special Branch (Police) pass and press accreditation card revoked following his recent coverage of allegations against LGRD State Minister Mir Shahe Alam over the awarding of government contracts.

Channel One Editor-in-Chief Nazmul Ashraf told Netra News that Habibur was the channel’s only senior broadcast journalist assigned to cover the prime minister’s activities.

He said Channel One received a letter on September 1 from the Prime Minister’s Office through the Press Information Department (PID) informing the channel that Habibur’s SB pass and press accreditation card had been cancelled. The letter did not state a reason for the decision, according to the report.

According to the Netra News report, Channel One alleged that Shahe Alam had used his position to secure work for himself and family members.

The report also said posts related to the Channel One coverage were later removed from social media following what the channel described as cyberattacks.

The accreditation decision also came weeks after Habibur questioned the government’s approach to appointments at a BNP event.

On August 17, while covering an event marking 180 days of the BNP government, Habibur reportedly asked three questions, including whether the government was giving greater priority to party-affiliated individuals when making appointments to state institutions.

Two days later, according to Habibur, a person working with the government’s press wing told him that ministers had been offended by his questions and asked why he had been given the microphone.