Journalists across several districts on Tuesday staged human chain demonstrations to protest the harassment and arrest of Rozina Islam, a senior journalist of Prothom Alo.
Various organizations and journalist leaders condemned the incident while demanding her immediate release and probe into the harassments she faced.
The programs were attended by journalists from different media outlets and local journalists under individual banners.
Journalists working in Rangamati organized a human chain demanding withdrawal of false charges against Rozina Islam, unconditional release and exemplary punishment for those who harassed her.
The Rangamati Press Club organized a human chain in front of the Rangamati Deputy Commissioner's Office at 11am.
Speakers at the time said Rozina Islam exposed one corruption after another in the health department during the coronavirus epidemic in the country.
But the government did not take any action against these corruptions. On the contrary, Rozina has now been handed over to the police as part of a conspiracy.
The Barisal Reporters' Unity (BRU) staged another such protest at Sadar Road, the heart of the Barisal city, demanding the unconditional release of Rozina Islam.
Besides the BRU, the Barisal Photo Journalists Forum, along with representatives of local and national newspapers and various media workers also expressed their solidarity by attending the program.
Later, a unified protest rally marched around on city roads and came to halt at the BRU office on Adalatapara Road.
Meanwhile, journalists organized another human chain in front of the Rangpur Press Club also demanding the unconditional release of Rozina Islam.
Hundreds of journalists working in print electronics media working in Rangpur attended the program in the afternoon.
Participants said that Rozina, a praised investigative journalist whose reports have exposed the corruption inside the Ministry of Health in the past, was subjected to injustice.
The speakers demanded Rozina’s release and proper investigation into Monday night’s incident.
With the same agenda, human chains and protest rallies were also held in front of the Tangail Press Club, the Satkhira Press Club and Patuakhali Press Club.
On Monday night, Rozina Islam was detained for allegedly taking snapshots of an official document while she was on duty at the Secretariat without due permission.
She was taken to Shahbagh police station after being detained at the health ministry in the Secretariat for five hours.
Subsequently, a case was filed against her under the Official Secrets Act.
Health Services Division's (HSD) Deputy Secretary Sibbir Ahmed Osmani filed the case with Shahbagh police station on Monday midnight.
Two more charges were brought against the senior journalist under 379 and 411 sections of the penal code.
Meanwhile, her husband Monirul Islam on Tuesday said that they will file a case against those officials who assaulted and tortured Rozina Islam inside the room of the Secretariat.
