“VOA talks to the people and runs authentic reports. You (the audience), listen to VOA and comment on social media about our news,” she said while addressing a programme organised by National Federation of VOA Fan Club at Jatiya Press Club. 

She said they visited the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh and ran a programme, ‘Lifeline’, for Rohingyas in their mother tongue.

“We also covered Buet student Abrar Fahad’s killing. We couldn’t even imagine that a student can be killed this way,” she said.

Abrar, a second-year student, was beaten to death on Monday reportedly by leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Buet unit. 

Noted broadcast journalist Roquia has been serving as the chief of VOA’s Bangla services since 2011. She was appointed as VOA’s managing editor of Bangla department in 2001.

Arlissa M Reynolds, Public Affairs Officer of US Embassy, said, “We saw many good reports of VOA Bangla. I appreciated you for it. I came to Bangladesh several days ago. I thank the country’s people for sheltering Rohingyas and open the border for them.”

She asked the journalists to work keeping in mind the freedom of media. “We, the people of the USA, are with you,” she said.

Jatiya Press Club General Secretary Farida Yeasmin said Roquia inspired them with her excellent journalistic works. 

“We’re proud of her,” she said.