March 28, 2024, 3:26 pm


Staff Correspondent

Published:
2021-05-18 13:37:16 BdST

Prothom Alo reporter Rozina arrested after 5-hour confinement


Daily Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam was taken to Shahbagh Police Station following a case filed by the health ministry Monday night for allegedly “taking photograph of some important official documents”.

After being confined to the room of PS to Health Division Secretary Lokman Hossain Miah, she was taken from the secretariat to Shahbagh Police Station around 9:45 pm.

Dr Md Shibbir Ahmed Osmani, deputy secretary of the health division, filed the complaint with the Shahbagh Police Station in the night. A case was filed against Rozina Islam under the Official Secrets Act.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police additional deputy commissioner for Ramna zone Harun Ur Rashid told media that the case was filed under sections 379 and 411 of the penal code and the official secrets act.

According to the case, Rozina Islam went to the room of PS Md Saiful Islam Bhuiyan in his absence between 3:00pm and 3:30pm without permission. He was at the health secretary’s room. At one stage, Rozina allegedly took some official documents with her and captured picture of some other pages, the complainant said.

Police constable Mizanur Rahman followed incident and intervened. Later, additional secretary Kazi Zebunnessa Begum accompanied with other officials went to the spot. Zebunnesa Begum searched Rozina and recovered the documents. She also checked the mobile phone of the journalist and found pictures captured.

The complainant claimed that the documents taken and pictured by Rozina are highly sensitive and related to Covid-19 vaccine procurement deal with various countries. Disclosure of the content of the document may cast a negative impact on the vaccine purchasing negotiation, the complainant said.

However, Rozina Islam rejected the claim. She allegedly went to the room for professional reason.

During hours of confinement, Rozina fell sick. The journalists of various newspapers and televisions tried to have a clarification of the health secretary who refused to make any comment. The professional colleagues also protested the incident.

National Press Club president Farida Yasmin wrote on her verified Facebook page that Rozina had fallen sick. She demanded proper treatment of the journalist.

Elias Khan, general secretary of the organisation, condemned the misbehaviour of government employees with the on-duty journalist and protested against the incident.

Rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra expressed its deep concern over the issue. It said there was no way to detain such a journalist during his professional duty. It also demanded immediate steps from the government against those who were responsible for her detention and torture.

Otherwise, this incident will be a bad example for the press freedom and the fulfilment of the professional responsibilities of journalists, it said.

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