Prof. M Zahidul Haque :
THE recent episode centering journalist Rozina Islam stirred the entire journalists’ community of Bangladesh and invoked massive protest and resentment among the professionals and people at national and international level. Journalists of all levels and all the journalists’ unions have raised their unanimous and strong voice protesting the unjust case against Journalist Rozina Islam and demanded withdrawal of the same.
As flashed in the media, Senior Reporter of daily Prothom Alo, Rozina Islam went to Bangladesh Secretariat on the day the unexpected episode took place. As heard by this author from Rozina’s husband who spoke on a television channel – the husband dropped Journalist Rozina at the Secretariat gate who (Rozina) was supposed to pay a courtesy call to the Secretary, Health Services Division after the Eid and also to collect some important information from an inside source. The husband wished to accompany her but she declined as it was not necessary. Anyway, when Journalist Rozina Islam was about to enter the PS to the Secretary’s room, a police Constable and a staff told her that both the Secretary and his PS was not inside but they would return soon. They requested Journalist Rozina to go inside and to wait for a while. Sitting on a couch, Journalist Rozina took that day’s ‘Daily Star’ newspaper from the table and started looking over it.
After sometime, some official reportedly caught her red-handed taking some pictures of certain important and confidential documents from a file kept on the table. Then some officials detained her (which is not appropriate in the light of law) for five hours before handing her over to the police in charge of stealing important government documents and photographing certain other documents. It was alleged that some health officials had harassed and tortured Ms. Islam during an unlawful detention by them. Later the police produced journalist Rozina to the court. After hearing, the learned Court rejected the plea for remand and also the bail petition but sent Rozina to Jail. Then after hearing the following date, the learned Court granted an interim bail to Journalist Rozina Islam fixing the date of next hearing on July 15. Now the case has been transferred to the Detective Branch of Police for further investigation. It is sincerely hoped that hidden facts will come out through the DB investigation and Journalist Rozina Islam will get justice.
It may be mentioned here that Journalist Rozina was sued under the ‘Official Secret Act’ and the ‘Penal Code’. If proven guilty, the journalist may land in jail for a long-term. But it is sincerely hoped that Journalist Rozina Islam will be pleaded ‘not guilty’ in the Court of the charges brought against her and honorably back to her beat.
Being an academic in the discipline of agricultural journalism, this author after reviewing the episode of Journalist Rozina Islam would like to tell a few words about the profession of journalism emphasizing the investigative journalism. According to the United Nations-“Journalism is one of the most dangerous professions in the world”. Recently the US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken while condemning the Lukashenka regime’s ongoing harassment and arbitrary detention of journalists observed -“Independent media are an essential pillar supporting the rule of law and a vital component of a democratic society”.
In fact, an investigative journalist is alone while performing his/her professional tasks. His/her main tools include sincerity, honesty, courage, sagacity, integrity. An investigative journalist should always put his/her step very carefully while unearthing a truth, absolute truth. In modern age journalism, Sting Journalism has emerged as a very effective tool to catch wrong-doers red-handed. Although Sting Journalism has some ethical issues but many undaunted journalists apply this tool to apprehending crime and criminals involved in wrong-doings , for instance, human and drug trafficking, corruption etc. With the advancement in digital communication technology (smart phone, miniature audio and video gadgets), the sting operation is getting popularity among the investigative journalists.
Of course it is true that acceptance of audio-video evidences gathered through sting operation by the Court is yet to get a full-grade green signal. But when electronic media air the audio/video clips taken directly from the crime scene or criminals’ den generates public opinion against the offence/crime. This prompts the relevant authority to go for action considering greater public good.
(The author is a professor at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University who teaches Agricultural Journalism at post-graduate level).
