Gulam Rabbani :
Protest of the different journalists’ and the professional organizations continue across the country demanding unconditional and immediate release of Prothom Alo’s Senior Correspondent Rozina Islam and punishment of the officials who tortured her at the Secretariat.
The journalists’ leaders have rejected the inquiry committee formed by the Health Ministry to probe into the harassment of journalist Rozina Islam, and demanded a judicial inquiry over the incident.
They have also demanded an assessments of the assets of the Health Ministry officials and that the corrupt officials to be brought to justice.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Molla Jalal said that tougher actions would be announced if the demands of unconditional release of Rozina Islam, withdrawal of false case filed against her and exemplary punishment of the perpetrators are not met by Thursday.
He said this in a human chain program organized on the Jatiya Press Club premises on Wednesday demanding the unconditional release of Rozina, withdrawal of the case filed against her and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
He said, “False case against Rozina should be withdrawn and there is no alternative of it. The world has seen Rozina’s harassment. We are demanding to form a high-powered committee to probe into the incident. If the demands are not met by tomorrow (Thursday) then we, all the journalists’ organizations, will be bound to declare tougher actions.”
And then if the government and the media take a confrontational stance, the government will have to take full responsibility, added the journalists’ leader.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum (BSRF), Photo Journalists Association, Barishal Divisional Journalists Association, Rangpur Divisional Journalists Association and Faridpur Journalists Foundation jointly organized the human chain program.
Another group of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) held separate program outside the Jatiya Press Club on the same issue.
Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) organized a protest rally on the DRU premises at Segunbagicha in the capital city on Wednesday.
Dhaka Reporters’ Unity President Muraslin Nomani said that they would continue their protest program until the release of Rozina Islam. He said the Health Ministry officials tried to kill her by physical and mental torture.
Regarding the investigation committee formed by the Ministry of Health, Morsalin Nomani said that the committee has been formed with those who tortured her. He rejected the probe committee formed by the Ministry and demanded judicial inquiry in to the incident.
The government would be weak if the investigative journalism is stopped, added the DRU President.
Joining the protest rally, Elias Khan, Secretary of the Jatiya Press Club, emphasized on the need for unity among the journalists.
He said, “The administration is mired in corruptions. Besides, a culture of fear has also been developed. Although there have been many incidents of torturing the journalists before, no trial has taken place. If Rozina Islam’s bail is not granted and case is not withdrawn, the movement will continue.”
Shahed Chowdhury, Treasurer of the Jatiya Press Club, said all journalists are now mentally imprisoned seeing Rozina in jail.
Prothom Alo’s Associate Editor Anisul Hoque was said that the solidarity the journalists have expressed after the arrest of Rozina Islam must be maintained.
Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) President Sharmeen Rinvy said that Rozina must be released. She urged the journalists to forget all the differences for greater unity.
Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum (BSRF) Secretary Shamim Ahmed said they will continue their movement until Rozina is released unconditionally. At that time he described the incident of abusing journalist Rozina Islam at the Secretariat.
DRU Secretary Mashiur Rahman Khan said they would submit a memorandum to the Information Minister on Wednesday demanding Rozina’s release and hold protest rally on Thursday for the same demand.
In a program organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum (BSRF) its President Tapon Biswas said they demand her release, and exemplary punishment for those who have done wrong to him.
Sources said protest rallies have been organized by the journalists in different districts across the country in condemning the arrest of the journalist and demanding immediate release of her.
Journalists in Pabna, Bagura, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Sylhet, Bagerhat, Narayanganj, Khagrachari, Kishoreganj, Barguna, Bandarban, Barishal, Chapai Nawabganj, Narsingdi, Jhinaidah and some other districts held rally in protesting the incident.
Rozina Islam was confined and assaulted on Monday in an office room of the Health Ministry at the Secretariat for more than five hours over an allegation of ‘trying to steal’ confidential government documents.
Some of the arrogant officials of the Ministry abused her mentally and physically during the confinement at the Secretariat office room. Some video clips of the torturing also went viral through social medias.
Finally she was handed over to Shahbagh Police Station at night and a case was filed against her under Official Secrets Act and some other sections of the Bangladesh Penal Code. Dr Md Shibbir Ahmed Osmani, a deputy secretary of the health services division under the ministry of health and family welfare, is the petitioner of the case.
She was sent to jail by a Dhaka court on Tuesday and she is now Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur.
Not only the journalists’ organizations, but also other professional bodies demanded her release and punishment for the perpetrators.
Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has expressed concerns over harassment, physical and mental torture on Rozina Islam and condemned such incident taking place inside the Secretariat.
A statement by the association said, the Health Ministry alleges that Rozina took photos of confidential files from HSD Private Secretary’s room. The Personal Secretary meets general people in that room. If confidential files are put in a place where the general publics have access to, then it is negligence on the authority’s part.
The association also demanded fair investigation of the incident and punishment of the accused people behind the incident. They also urged government to ensure legal protection and human rights of the journalist.
University Teachers’ Network, a platform for private and public university teachers, on Wednesday issued a statement protesting the harassment and arrest of Prothom Alo Senior Reporter Rozina Islam.
The statement signed by 100 teachers of different universities and members of the network, presented four demands. The demands are— freeing Rozina Islam immediately and unconditionally, bringing those who harassed Rozina by confining her wrongfully and obstructed her from discharging professional duties to book, repeal the Official Secrets Act 1923 and Digital Security Act 2018 which are obstacles for investigative journalism and overall freedom of speech, and publish white paper of health ministry’s graft.
