Bangladeshi actor Jaya Ahsan condemned the arrest of Prothom Alo Senior Reporter Rozina Islam, who fell sick after being held for five hours inside the Bangladesh Secretariat, reportedly by Health Ministry officials on Monday, May 17, 2021.
“Rozina went there to perform her duties as a journalist. We all saw how she was lying on the floor after being assaulted by the authorities. Are we not civilized? Is this how we treat our journalists?” the National Award-winning actor wrote.
“The hands firmly pressed on Rozina’s neck symbolize the muzzling of free speech and free press in this country. This is a shameful incident that sullied the country’s 50th anniversary of independence.”
“I am demanding the immediate release of Rozina Islam,” the actor added.
Rozina Islam, who was confined to a government office and later arrested under the Official Secrets Act, said she has been treated wrongfully for reports on irregularities at the Health Ministry.
She has been taken to Kashimpur Women's Central Jail in Gazipur from Dhaka.
Ms Islam will remain in detention there until the next hearing of her bail petition on Thursday.
Health Ministry officials handed Rozina Islam over to the police on Monday after confining her at the office of Saiful Islam Bhuiyan, personal secretary to Health Services Division Secretary Lokman Hossain Miah.
She was later sued under the Official Secrets Act and the Penal Code for “theft and photographing” of official documents.
