DB to probe case against Rozina Islam

The cases filed against journalist Rozina Islam for her alleged attempting to illegally collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them from the Secretariat, handed over to Detective Branch of Police (DB).

Harunur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (Ramna zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said the case has been transferred to the DB.

Rozina was detained from the Secretariat on Monday and later handed over to Shahbagh Police Station on that night.

An FIR was filed against her under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code by the Health Services Division at Shahbagh Police Station.

Later, a Dhaka court on Tuesday sent Rozina, to jail after rejecting the police's demand for her five-day remand.

Rozina Islam was taken to Kashimpur Central Women's Jail on Tuesday afternoon after the court rejected police’s remand plea.

Besides, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has formed a three-member probe committee to look into the confinement.

Besides, Rozina’s arrest and harassment sparked protest among people of different classes and professions across the country.

As part of the protest, journalists on Wednesday formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka demanding unconditional release of journalist Rozina Islam and punishment of those involved in harassing her at the Secretariat.

Dhaka Reporters Unity, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalist, Barishal Divisional Journalist Association, Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum, Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association and other organizations joined the human chain around 11:00am.

They also termed the case lodged against the journalist as false and demanded its withdrawal.