Journalist Rozina Islam appears in court

Rozina Islam receives this year’s Free Press Award for courageous journalism in the ‘Most Resilient Journalist’ category.
Twitter/Free Press Unlimited

Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam on Tuesday appeared before a court in a case filed under Penal Code and Official Secrets Act.

She appeared before the chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM) court in Dhaka.

Rozina Islam’s lawyer Prashanta Kumar Karmakar told Prothom Alo that today, Tuesday, was the date to submit a probe report in the case. But no report was filed at the court.

Rozina Islam appeared before the court, the lawyer added.

Meanwhile, another court will conduct a hearing on 12 December over the plea of journalist Rozina Islam seeking her press accreditation card and cell phone.

On 29 October, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court set the date after accepting a revision appeal of Rozina Islam seeking her passport, press accreditation card and two mobile phones seized in the case.

Earlier, on 15 September, Dhaka CMM court rejected the plea of journalist Rozina Islam seeking her press accreditation card and cell phones.

Rozina Islam has received this year’s Free Press Award for courageous journalism. She won the award in the ‘Most Resilient Journalist’ category.

This award is given by the Amsterdam-based organisation Free Press Unlimited.

Rozina Islam could not attend the award giving programme at the Hague as police in Bangladesh seized her passport.

On 17 May last year, journalist Rozina Islam was harassed while carrying out her professional duty at the health ministry. She had been confined to the ministry for about six hours. She was shown arrested under a century-old Official Secrets Act later and sent to jail.

After five days, Rozina Islam was released from jail on bail. Demonstrations were held at home and abroad protesting against torture and case against Rozina Islam. Various local and foreign organisations also issued protest.

Though Rozina Islam was released on bail, the case against her has not been withdrawn as yet. Her passport, mobile phone and accreditation card used to carry out professional duty at the secretariat have also not been returned.