Arrested B’desh woman scribe set free from jail

Dhaka, May 23: A prominent Bangladeshi senior woman investigative journalist was released from jail on Sunday after a court granted interim bail to her, a week after she was arrested on charges of violating a colonial-era official secrecy law that triggered widespread protests, including by the UN.

Rozina Islam, a senior reporter of Bangla daily Prothom Alo, the largest daily newspaper based on circulation, was detained on Monday last for over five hours by Health Ministry officials for allegedly clicking a picture of a document with her cell phone without permission. She was later arrested by the police.

She was released from the Kashimpur Women’s Central Jail on Sunday evening, a prison official told Dhaka Tribune. Earlier, the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Baki Billah granted her bail till July 15 on a bond of Tk 5,000 (approximately $59).

She was also granted bail on condition of submitting her passport.

While pronouncing the bail order, the magistrate said, “It is the duty of journalists to protect the image of society and state. I hope that from now on, we will all act responsibly.”

The health ministry filed a case against Islam under the draconian 1923 Official Secrets Act that carries harsh penalties, including a possible death penalty, the Daily Star newspaper reported.

Reacting to reports of Islam’s arrest, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it is obviously “something concerning”.

“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. 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,” Dujarric said.