A Nigerian female inmate of Kashimpur Women's Central Jail died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Friday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Chidimma Abelf, 26. Read: Prisoner dies at DMCH Halima Khatun, senior jail super of Kashimpur Women's Central Jail, said Chidimma was taken to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital on March 16 after falling ill. Later she was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Thursday as her condition deteriorated where she died while undergoing treatment on Friday, added jail super Halima. Chidimma Abelf had been lodged in the Kashimpur jail after being arrested in a Digital Security Act case filed against her, she added.

Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam, who was sent to jail on May 18 in a case filed under the Official Secrets Act, walked out of Kashimpur Women's Central Jail on Sunday afternoon after securing interim bail from a Dhaka court. Rozina came out of the prison around 4:15 pm, according to jail officials. Journalists and people from different walks of life received Rozina at the jail gate with flower bouquets. Her 13 relatives, including sister and brother-in-law, reached the jail gate around 3:25 pm in two microbuses to receive her. The bail-related documents were sent to the jail authorities online and they freed her after examining those. Read: Journalist Rozina Islam finally gets bail until July 15 Earlier in the day, a Dhaka court granted interim bail to Rozina Islam until July 15 in the case. 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. 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.  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. Read:Dr Kamal demands immediate release of journalist 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. 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. 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. Read:Rozina Islam: Journalism Vs the Colonial hangover of official secrecy 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’s condemnation 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.

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.