Court to pass order on Rozina’s bail plea soon

A Dhaka court will pass an order later in the day on Thursday on the bail petition of Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam in connection with a case filed under the Official Secrets Act.

After a long hearing from the defence and prosecution, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Baki Billah said the court will come up with an order after verifying other relevant documents in the case.

Rozina Islam was detained at the Secretariat for over five hours before being handed over to Shahbagh Police Station police on May 17.

She allegedly was attempting to take photos of some sensitive documents of the government over Covid-19 vaccines, according to the case statement.

An FIR was filed against Rozina under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code on a complaint filed by the Health Services Division at Shahbagh police station.

Later, a Dhaka court, on May 18, sent Rozina to jail after rejecting the police's demand for her five-day remand. Later, Rozina was taken to Kashimpur Central Women's Jail on that day only.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has formed a three-member probe committee to look into the allegations of the journalist's detention at the Secretariat and also her subsequent handover to the police.

Meanwhile, the case filed against Rozina was transferred to the Detective Branch of police on Wednesday.

Protest over Rozina’s arrest

Journalists from all most all media outlets across the country formed human chains demanding unconditional release of Rozina and punishment of those involved in "harassing" her at the Secretariat.

They also demanded withdrawal of the false cases filed against the woman scribe.

UN concern over Rozina’s arrest

The United Nations has said that Rozina's Iarrest is obviously "something concerning”, noting that journalists need to be able to do their work free of any sort of harassment or physical threat anywhere around the world.

"Look, I've seen…we've seen the press reports on the journalist who was arrested in Bangladesh. It’s, obviously, something that we’re looking at. It’s something that's concerning," said Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, at a regular briefing on May 18.

Amnesty statement over arrest

Rozina's arrest and the failure of the Bangladesh authorities to provide concrete evidence pointing to a recognisable criminal offence raise concerns that she is being targeted for her critical reporting, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.

In the absence of such evidence, the authorities must release Rozina immediately and she should not be punished for fulfilling her professional duties as a journalist, the human rights organisation also said.

TIB condemns arrest

In a statement, Transparency International Bangladesh on May 18, also strongly condemned the detention and harassment of the investigative journalist at the Ministry of Health while performing her professional duties.

It has demanded immediate withdrawal of charges and unconditional release of Rozina. It has also urged the government to show prudence by ensuring exemplary punishment to the culprits through proper investigation into the incident.