Staff Reporter :
Hearing on the bail petition filed by Prothom Alo senior correspondent Rozina Islam will be held today (Thursday) in a case filed against her under some sections of the Bangladesh Penal Code and Official Secrets Act.
Judge of the Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka, Baki Billah, will hold the hearing through virtual process, said Prashanta Kumar Karmakar, one of the counsels of journalist Rozina Islam.
The lawyer said also Rozina Islam doesn’t need to be present during the bail hearing as lawyers will represent her in the court.
“Rozina Islam has made some news reports about the corruptions in the Health Ministry which are related to the public interests. She is a professional woman journalist. The allegation that has been stated in the case is false and baseless. She has a children and she is sick. Hope court will grant bail to her considering all these issues,” added the lawyer.
Earlier on Tuesday, Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jashim sent Rozina Islam in the jail after rejecting a remand prayer filed by police in the case.
However, the court has adjourned the hearing till Thursday on the bail petition filed by Rozina in the case.
The court said, “We do not have the practice of cancelling remand and giving bail on the same day. You can seek bail on the next hearing day.” Then the judge after consulting with the lawyers concerned fixed Thursday as the next hearing date.
Rozina Islam was confined and assaulted on last 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.
