Prothom Alo
Journalist Rozina taken to Kashimpur Women's Central Jail
Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam was taken to Kashimpur Central Women's Jail on Tuesday afternoon after a Dhaka court rejected police’s remand plea.
She has been sued under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act, 1923 by the Health Services Division.
She was taken to the jail around 2:45pm. Her husband Monirul Islam Mithu, sister Sabina Akter and other relatives were present there.
Also Read: Prothom Alo journo Rozina sent to jail
Monirul said the journalist, 42, was sick and urged the jail authorities to take measures for her treatment.
Earlier in the day, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jashim sent her to judicial custody rejecting police’s five-day remand plea.
The court fixed May 20 for hearing Rozina's bail petition.
Also Read:Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina arrested under Official Secrets Act
Rozina Islam, a journalist known for her strong reporting on official corruption was shown arrested yesterday on charges of violating the Official Secrets Act.
The journalist rejected all allegations against her and said she had been harassed inside the Secretariat.
Fakhrul demands Rozina's immediate release
Stating that the arrest and harassment of Prothom Alo's Senior Reporter Rozina Islam is an example of the government's obstruction to revealing the truth and corruption, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday demanded her immediate release.
In a statement, he also demanded the resignation of Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Health Secretary Abdul Mannan as he thinks Rizina was repressed at their behest.
“The government can’t avoid the responsibility of cruel attitude towards journalists in the Health Ministry. Although the health minister and the secretary knew about the incident, they didn’t take any step to rescue Rozina Islam. Instead, she was handed over to the police,” Fakhrul said.
Also Read: Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina arrested under Official Secrets Act
“This’s not a trivial or isolated incident. This’s just an example of suppression of journalists by the authoritarian ruler and also an example of the government's obstruction to expressing dissenting opinions, uncovering the truth and rampant corruption,” he observed.
The BNP leader said the brave and investigative journalists have been intimidated by the incident so that they can no longer make reports on the government’s ‘corruption, plundering, irregularities and waywardness’. “The government wants to cover up its corruption and misrule by spreading fear and panic.”
He said the country’s people could know about many malpractices and irregularities through many investigative and courageous reports by Rozina. “That's why the government was angry with her and she was kept under its watch.”
As she went to the Health Ministry alone for professional reasons on Monday, the BNP leader said some officials and employees of the ministry unfairly confined her to a room for six hours and tortured her both physically and mentally. “She was arrested later. Such attitude towards a female journalist by the government officials is a shameful and unforgivable crime. We strongly protest and condemn the incident and the arrest of the journalist.”
Also Read: Prothom Alo journo Rozina sent to jail
Fakhrul said the nasty incident has manifested that there is no scope left in Bangladesh for independent journalism and getting information.
He demanded the government release Rozina immediately after withdrawing the false charges brought against her. “Exemplary punishment of those involved in torturing and arresting her must be ensured.”
Fakhrul also demanded an end to the government’s interference in independent journalism and right to information, and repression and suppression of journalists.
Earlier in the day, a Dhaka court sent Rozina, arrested in a case under the Official Secrets Act, to jail after rejecting the podemand of police for her five-day remand.
Rozina was arrested for allegedly attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
The Prothom Alo journalist has turned all the allegations. "I was, in fact, harassed at the Secretariat," she claimed immediately after her arrest.
Senior journo Rozina produced in court
Police on Tuesday morning produced in a court Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam, who was held in a case under the Official Secrets Act, and sought her custody for five days.
Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division) Sazzadur Rahman said that Rozina was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jashim around 8 am. He said that the police have sought her remand for custodial interrogation.
Rozina was arrested for allegedly attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
The Prothom Alo journalist has rejected all the allegations. "I was, in fact, harassed at the Secretariat," she claimed immediately after her arrest.
Read: Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina arrested under Official Secrets Act
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, said Harun ur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Rozina was handed over to police around 9.45pm on Monday after being held at the Secretariat for over five hours.
Maidul Islam Pradhan, senior information officer at the Health Ministry, claimed that she had entered the room of the Private Secretary to the Secretary of Health Services Division between 3pm and 3.30pm “without permission”.
“She took photos of sensitive documents. Some of those were recovered from her by the staff of the Health Ministry, including the PS, Additional Secretary of the Ministry and police constable Mizanur Rahman,” he claimed.
Health Secretary Lokman Hossain has refused to comment on the matter.
Read:
Journalists' Protest
Dozens of journalists thronged the police station after Rozina was brought there and staged a protest against her harassment on Monday night.
Jatiya Press Club President Farida Yasmin wrote on her verified Facebook page that Rozina had fallen sick. She also demanded proper treatment of the journalist.
Elias Khan, Secretary of the apex journalist organisation, also condemned the alleged misbehaviour of government employees at the Secretariat with the on-duty journalist.
Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina arrested under Official Secrets Act
Rozina Islam, a senior female journalist of Prothom Alo was arrested on the charge of attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
The Health Services Division filed a case against Rozina Islam with Shahbagh Police Station at night, said Harun ur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
The journalist rejected all the allegations and said she had been harassed inside the Secretariat.
Read Why press freedom matters
ADC Rashid said the journalist had been sued under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code.
Rozina was handed over to police around 9:45pm after being held at the Secretariat for over five hours.
Maidul Islam Pradhan, senior information officer at the Health Ministry, claimed that she had entered the room of the Private Secretary to the Secretary of Health Services Division between 3pm and 3:30pm “without permission”.
Read ‘Independent media’ spreading lies against govt: Quader
“She took photos of sensitive documents. Some of those were recovered from her by the staff of the Health Ministry, including the PS, Additional Secretary of the Ministry and police Constable Mizanur Rahman,” he claimed.
Health Secretary Lokman Hossain refused to speak to the media about the incident.
Journalist Mizanur laid to rest
Eminent journalist Mizanur Rahman Khan, joint editor of vernacular daily Prothom Alo, was laid to rest at Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Graveyard on Tuesday afternoon.
Prothom Alo joint editor Mizanur Rahman dies of Covid-19
Mizanur Rahman Khan, joint editor of vernacular daily the Prothom Alo, died on Monday evening after a long battle with deadly coronavirus. He was 53.
Nayeemul Abrar’s death: Anisul Hoque, 4 others get bail
A Dhaka court on Thursday granted bail to five people, including Anisul Hoque, associate editor of Prothom Alo, in a case filed over the death of Nayeemul Abrar Rahat, a student of Dhaka Residential Model College, from electrocution.
Motherhood and Journalism: Journalist mothers ‘conciliate both’
Women often face the tough choice of choosing between their children and responding to the call of duty. The situation can be particularly difficult for journalist mothers, many of whom said they were torn between childcare and professional duties.
Falguni Rashid, staff reporter at Ekattor Television, said at times she wished she could stay with her child all the time.
At times like these, women journalists balance the responsibilities of motherhood and work with the help from the family, friends and colleagues.
Maksuda Aziz, a mobile journalism specialist at Prothom Alo, said there were difficulties at first but things became easier when her partner started sharing the responsibilities of rearing children and household chores.
For some women journalists, being allowed to ‘take it easy’ and working less when they become pregnant is not the answer. Kazi Nafia Rahman, a reporter at bdnews24.com, covered the 2018 national election while expecting her first child.
Nayeemul Abrar’s death: Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman gets bail
A court here on Monday granted bail to Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman in a case filed over the death of Dhaka Residential Model College student Nayeemul Abrar Rahat.
Govt has no dispute with Prothom Alo: Quader
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