A platform for women, human rights and development has demanded unconditional release of Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam, formation of a judicial inquiry committee, and punishment for those involved in the incident.
A Dhaka court on Tuesday sent The Daily Prothom Alo's senior correspondent Rozina Islam to jail on Tuesday, a day after a case was filed against her under Official Secrets Act.
The Samajik Pratirodh Committee, a forum of 69 organisations working on women, human rights and development, made the demands at a virtual press conference on Thursday.
Dr Fauzia Moslem, President, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) moderated the event while Shahnaz Sumi, Deputy Director, Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha, read out a written statement in this regard.
Leaders of the different organisations related to the platform also spoke at the event.
The leaders of the platform also urged the government to create a conducive environment where the country's journalists can perform their professional duties impartially and freely without any harassment or intimidation.
They also called upon the government to immediately withdraw the ‘false case’ against journalist Rozina with ensuring proper treatment for her.
They strongly condemned the harassment and torture of the investigative reporter, saying that her fundamental rights as a journalist and as a woman had been taken away.
‘The physical and psychological torture inflicted on journalist Rozina is a crime. Those who have committed this crime must be brought under the law’, they emphasised.
They also demanded the punishment for all the health officials including secretary and additional secretary of the Health Services Division involved in the incident.
Urging the government to provide proper security and protection to Rozina’s family, they also called for appropriate action against irregularities, corruption, closure of recruitment trade, corruption syndicates in different ministries including health services division and punishment of those involved in corruption.
On Monday, journalist Rozina Islam was confined at the secretariat for more than five hours over allegation of stealing ‘important documents.'
Later, deputy secretary of Health Services Division Shabbir Ahmed Osmani filed a case against Rozina with Shahbagh Police Station early Tuesday under Bangladesh Penal Code and Official Secrets Act.