Rozina Islam, a senior reporter of Prothom Alo, has been handed over to the police after being detained for five hours at the Health Ministry in the Secretariat. She went to the ministry around 3:30 pm on Monday to perform his professional duties.
After that she was detained there for a long time on the charge of 'stealing' government documents and at one stage she fell ill. Police took Rozina Islam out of the secretariat and took her to Shahbagh police station around 8:30 pm. A case was filed against him around 12 pm.
She has been charged with theft of documents and breach of confidentiality by the Ministry of Health. Police have arrested him in the case. Hundreds of media workers gathered at Shahbagh police station on Monday night demanding Rozina's release.
At the time, her younger sister Julie Islam told reporters that Rozina went to the health ministry on Monday to perform her professional duties. There she took a document from the source. Then go to meet the health secretary. Mizan, the constable in charge, told him that the secretary was not there at that time and asked him to sit inside. Shortly after that, the policeman snatched Rozina's bag and put the paper inside, saying, "You've done a lot of news about the health department."
At one stage, an attempt was made to touch Rozina's body. Julie further claims that she was harassed by putting paper in her sister's bag. She was threatened with burial. According to Health Ministry Information Officer Maidul Islam, Rozina Islam entered the room of Health Secretary PS Saiful Islam Bhoona on Monday without permission. Then PS was in the secretary's room. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was in the room, Rozina took pictures of some important and sensitive files of the state.
And hid some files in the bag. Additional Secretary Kazi Jebunnesa Begum entered the PS room at that time. He stopped Rozina from seeing the matter. She then got into an argument with the Additional Secretary.
In this case, the Deputy Secretary of Public Health. Shibbir Ahmed lodged a complaint with the police station. After that she was handed over to the police. DC Sajjadur Rahman of Ramna division of the police said that Rozina Islam was handed over to Shahbagh police station from the secretariat in this incident. The case has been filed.
Now we will take the next legal action. In this regard, the managing editor of Prothom Alo Sajjad Sharif said, Rozina has made several discussed reports on irregularities and corruption in the health sector. We think that is why he is the victim of resentment. Sajjad Sharif said, "We will deal with the incident in a legal way. Meanwhile, journalists from various media outlets went to the building of the Ministry of Health after receiving the news of Rozina's detention." Although the media wanted to know the reason for Rozina's detention for a long time, the health ministry officials did not say anything.
In the afternoon, journalists gathered outside the secretariat to protest against the harassment and detention of Rozina Islam. Farida Yasmin, president of the National Press Club, protested on Facebook, saying, I have spoken to the Minister of Health, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Information and the Press Secretary to the Prime Minister on the matter. They have promised to resolve the issue.
As far as I know, Rozina has fallen ill, but she is still being held captive. I demand that she be treated at the hospital immediately. Mashiur Rahman Khan, general secretary of the Dhaka Reporters' Unity, wrote on Facebook, "I strongly condemn the misconduct of Prothom Alo reporter Rozina Islam and the health secretary's office staff while performing her professional duties." Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.
They demanded legal action against those involved in the incident. The Law and Arbitration Center (LASC) said in a statement that it was "unacceptable" to detain a journalist in the line of duty.
They called upon the concerned authorities of the government to take immediate action in this regard.
