The Coalition of Human Rights & Democracy in Bangladesh strongly condemns the harassment of Rozina Islam, a senior journalist at Bangladesh’s daily newspaper, Prothom Alo. Ms. Islam was harassed in the Secretariat and sued under the Penal Code and Official Secrets Act for the “theft” and “photographing” of documents. Ms. Islam denies any wrongdoing. It is suspected by Prothom Alo that she has been framed for reporting on the corruption in the healthcare sector during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms. Islam fell ill during her harassment but is still being detained at the police station overnight, to be taken to court in the morning.
We declare this tragic incident a serious blow to independent journalism and think that such attacks and lawsuits are taking place in the absence of a competitive democracy in the country. This is the first time in Bangladesh that a national award-winning investigative journalist has been detained and tortured in the capital’s secretariat while on duty.
The government has already enacted a black law called the Digital Security Act to stifle the media. Hundreds of journalists and writers have been imprisoned under that law. Writer Mushtaq Ahmed was imprisoned under this draconian law and died in custody after undergoing severe torture by the Bangladesh law enforcement agencies.
Earlier, notable editor Mahmudur Rahman and editor Abul Asad were publicly attacked with the help of government officials and jailed.
The Coalition of Human Rights & Democracy in Bangladesh demands the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Rozina Islam and demands a departmental investigation to take action against the culprits.
We are also seeking the assistance and cooperation of the international community to ensure the freedom of the press and the freedom of speech in Bangladesh.