The foreign ministry has directed all its missions to monitor the activities of the Bangladeshi journalists travelling abroad and find out whether they are involved in any anti-state activities.

In a letter issued to the foreign missions yesterday, the ministry said if any journalist is found involved in any activities against “the interest and the image of the country”, the person must be identified and such negative activities must be reported back    to the ministry immediately.

The ministry instructed all its missions to take the matter seriously.

The letter was signed by Md Lutfor Rahman, director general of the External Publicity Wing of the ministry. The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the letter.

It says the decision was made in line with the recommendations of the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs.

At its 20th meeting early this month, the parliamentary watchdog said any Bangladeshi journalist travelling abroad should be monitored. If their activities are found to be against “the interest of the country”, the foreign missions should report back to the ministry about it.

The letter also mentioned that the House body voiced concern over “the negative activities of Bangladeshi journalists abroad as such activities give wrong information on Bangladesh in the international arena”.

According to sources, at its 20th meeting, the parliamentary body expressed concern over some Bangladeshi journalists' frequent visit to Pakistan at that country's invitation.

Mahjabeen Khaled, one of the committee members, alleged that the Bangladeshi journalists visiting Pakistan are spreading propaganda  and giving misleading information about 1971 genocide.

The issue was raised at the meeting following some Bangladeshi      journalists' visits to Pakistan at that state's invitation.