Court to pass order on Rozina’s bail Sunday

A Dhaka on Thursday fixed Sunday to deliver order on the Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam’s bail petition 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 fixed the date 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.