UNB, Dhaka :
A senior female journalist of Prothom Alo was arrested on charge of attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
The Health Services Division filed a case against Rozina Islam with Shahbagh Police Station at night, said Harun ur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
The journalist rejected all the allegations and said she had been harassed inside the Secretariat.
ADC Rashid said the journalist had been sued under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code.
Rozina was handed over to police around 9:45pm after being held at the Secretariat for over five hours.
Maidul Islam Pradhan, senior information officer at the Health Ministry, claimed that she had entered the room of the Private Secretary to the Secretary of Health Services Division between 3pm and 3:30pm “without permission”.
“She took photos of sensitive documents. Some of those were recovered from her by the staff of the Health Ministry, including the PS, Additional Secretary of the Ministry and police Constable Mizanur Rahman,” he claimed.
Health Secretary Lokman Hossain refused to speak to the media about the incident.
Journalists Protest
Monday’s incident drew heavy flak from the journalist community.
Dozens of journalists thronged the Shahbagh Police Station after Rozina had been brought there and protested against the harassment.
Jatiya 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, Secretary of the apex journalist organisation, condemned the misbehaviour of government employees with the on-duty journalist and protested against the incident.
