Hearing completed on revision appeal for return of Rozina’s passport
The hearing on the revision appeal for the return of Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam’s passport, press accreditation card and two mobile phones, seized in a case filed under the Penal Code and Official Secrets Act, has been completed. The hearing was conducted on Sunday by the Dhaka eighth additional metropolitan sessions judge Syeda Hafsha Jhuma. The court, however, did not make any ruling on the day.
Rozina Islam’s lawyer Prasanta Kumar Karmakar confirmed this to Prothom Alo. Journalist Rozina Islam was harassed and mistreated for around six hours at the health ministry on 17 May this year while carrying out her professional duties. A case was filed against her at the Shahbagh police station and on 23 May she was released on bail.
After that, Rozina Islam appealed to the court for the return of her passport, press accreditation card and two mobiles phones. The appeal was rejected on 19 September by the Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate’s court (CMM). She then filed a revision appeal against the ruling at the Dhaka metropolitan sessions judge court. The hearing of the revision appeal took place on Sunday.
During the hearing, Rozina Islam’s lawyer Prasanta Kumar Karmakar told the court that her passport had been submitted while taking bail, in accordance to the court conditions. He appealed that the condition be relaxed and permission be granted for her passport to be returned. He also said Rozina Islam from beforehand has been suffering from some health issues and would go abroad for treatment. She is still unwell but could not go abroad for treatment as her passport remains with the court. And she is also unable to carry out her professional duties as her press accreditation card has been seized.
The court asked whether there was any report about the evidence seized in the case. Rozina Islam’s lawyer replied that during the hearing in the CMM court, the investigating officer has said that the examination of evidence had been completed.
Also present at the hearing were Rozina Islam’s lawyer Ehsanul Huq Samaji.
Rozina Islam received the Amsterdam-based Free Press Unlimited ‘Free Press Award-2021’ this year as a most resilient journalist