A Dhaka court on Sunday granted ad-interim bail to Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam until July 15 in a case filed under the Official Secrets Act. Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Baki Billah granted the bail on a bond of Tk 5,000. The court also asked her to submit her passport before the court. On Thursday, the court had fixed Sunday for passing an order after hearing her bail petition virtually. Assistant public prosecutor Hemayet Uddin Khan represented the state while Advocate Proshanto Kumar Karmakar and Ehsanul Haque Samaji stood for Rozina.  The 42-year-old journalist, known for her investigative journalism, was detained at the Secretariat for over five hours before being handed over to police on May 17. Also read: Don’t judge Rozina issue emotionally: Info Minister to journalists She allegedly clicked photos of documents related to government negotiations with pharma firms to buy Covid-19 vaccines, according to case documents. 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 with Shahbagh Police Station. Later, on May 18, a Dhaka court sent Rozina to jail after rejecting the police's demand for her five-day remand. 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. Nationwide protests Rozina’s harassment for hours and her subsequent arrest sparked condemnation across the country. Journalists formed human chains and held rallies in the capital and other parts of the country on Wednesday demanding the "unconditional" release of Rozina and the punishment of those involved in harassing her at the Secretariat. Also read: Order on journalist Rozina Islam’s bail Sunday They also demanded withdrawal of the false cases filed against the journalist. UN’s concern The United Nations has said Rozina's arrest 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’s statement 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, the 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 Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) has also strongly condemned the detention and harassment of the investigative journalist at the Ministry of Health while performing her professional duties. In a statement issued on May 18, TIB 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.      

A Dhaka court is slated to hear on Thursday morning the bail plea of Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam in a case filed under the Official Secrets Act. Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Baki Billah would virtually take up the appeal of the scribe, currently in judicial custody. The 42-year-old known for her investigative journalism, was detained at the Secretariat for over five hours before being handed over to police on May 17. She allegedly clicked photos of documents related to government negotiations with pharma firms to buy Covid-19 vaccines, according to case documents. 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. Rozina was taken to Kashimpur Central Women's Jail on that day only. Also read: DB to investigate case against Rozina 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 formed a human chain on Wednesday in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the "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. Also read: That's something concerning: UN on Rozina's arrest 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 Transparency International Bangladesh has also strongly condemned the detention and harassment of the investigative journalist at the Ministry of Health while performing her professional duties. In a statement issued on May 18, TIB 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.    

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.

The members of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) on Tuesday boycotted a press briefing of the Health Ministry protesting the harassment and arrest of Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam. The Health Ministry was scheduled to arrange a press briefing around 11 am at the secretariat. BSRF came up with the announcement on Tuesday morning. The next progammes  will  be announced after an emergency meeting over the issue, it said in a press release signed by Shamim Ahmed, general secretary of BSRF. Read: Senior journo Rozina produced in court Earlier in the morning, police 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. 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. Read:Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina arrested under Official Secrets Act 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.  

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.