The United Nations has expressed concern over the arrest and harassment of journalist Rozina Islam in Bangladesh.
Urging for a safe environment for media workers, a UN official on Wednesday said they are closely monitoring the issue of Rozina.
“Look, we've seen the press reports on the journalist that was arrested in Bangladesh. It is, obviously, something that we are looking at. It is something that's concerning,” a spokesperson of the UN told the daily press briefing Wednesday.
“Our position has been clear. Journalists need to be able to do their work free of any sort of harassment or physical threat anywhere around the world. And, obviously, that includes Bangladesh and every other country,” he said while responding to a question.
“I think we have seen the very important work that journalists all around the world have done during the pandemic, and they need to be able to continue that work, wherever they may work,” he said.
Police arrested Rozina, a senior reporter with The Daily Prothom Alo, after the health ministry sued her under the Official Secrets Act and the Penal Code on Monday night.
On Tuesday morning, a Dhaka court sent Rozina to jail after refusing a remand prayer by police and partly hearing a bail plea by her and setting Thursday for the rest of the hearing.
The ministry claimed that Rozina was trying to steal important documents from the room of the PS of the Health Secretary, but the reporter said she was falsely charged as she was reporting on the corruption of the health ministry recently.
Officials at the ministry confined the reporter there for five hours before handing her to the police, triggering a flurry of protests at home and abroad.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com