Two journalists and an information ministry official have been drafted in following poor performance of the cell.

Helal Uddin Ahmed, editor of Bangladesh Quarterly published by the Department of Films and Publications, Abdur Rahman Khan, chief reporter of The Independent, and Shamsuddoha Shoeb, a journalist of Daily Manavzamin, were appointed to rev up the cell.

Previously, senior journalists Atiqul Alam and Mahfuzullah and retired deputy secretary Wahiduzzaman ran the cell. Later, another journalist from Ajker Kagoj, Alimuzzaman Harun, was included in the cell.

But the government this time did not renew the contracts of the two senior journalists and cancelled those of Wahiduzzaman and Alimuzzaman.

Sources said both the home minister and state minister for home were unhappy with the previous members as they failed to ensure adequate news coverage of the ministry's activities to improve law and order as well as project the government's moves to curb crime.

Prior to the fresh appointments, pro-BNP journalists lobbied for the media cell jobs considering higher salary and facilities, sources said.

Even several senior cabinet ministers and a political secretary and a private secretary to the prime minister involved in the recruitment process tried to put their own men in the cell, the sources added.

Sources at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the file on the recast of the media cell was sent for the prime minister's approval, but two influential PMO officials sent it back to the home ministry as their men were not included in the cell.

Finally, the home ministry sent fresh names chosen by the PMO officials, which were approved by the prime minister on Wednesday.