Police arrested Rozina Islam, a senior reporter of vernacular daily Prothom Alo, in a case filed by the health ministry under Official Secrets Act 1923 after confining her at the ministry for five hours on Monday.
Md Shibbir Ahmed Osmani, deputy secretary at the Health Services Division of the ministry filed the case as a petitioner with Shahbagh police station at midnight accusing Rozina of collecting “sensitive government documents” and “taking photos of them ".
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.
Maidul Islam Pradhan, senior information officer at the ministry, claimed that Rozina had entered the office of the health services division secretary’s private secretary between 3:00pm and 3:30pm without permission. He said the ministry staff including the private secretary, an additional secretary and a constable of police found photos of sensitive documents on Rozina’s phone.
Rozina was kept confined at the ministry until she was handed over to the police at 9:45pm.
Rozina rejected all the allegations brought against her by the officials and said she was harassed inside the ministry.
Health secretary Lokman Hossain refused to speak to the media about the incident that drew heavy condemnation from journalists.
Dozens of journalists thronged the Shahbagh police station after Rozina was taken there and protested against the harassment.
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.
