TIB Condemns Journo Rozina's Imprisonment

Transparency International Bangladesh has severely denounced the incarceration and mistreatment of investigative journalist Rozina Islam, who was working for the Ministry of Health at the time.

In a statement released on Tuesday, TIB urged that the allegations against Rozina Islam be dropped immediately and that she be released unconditionally. It has also asked the government to exercise caution by ensuring that the perpetrators get exemplary punishment as a result of a thorough inquiry into the occurrence.

TIB's executive director, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "The treatment of a female journalist by Ministry of Health employees, who confined her for hours for allegedly stealing government data, is not only unethical, but also a direct display of their hatred towards her."

Iftekharuzzaman said, "It's natural to see the occurrence as the authorities' retaliation for Rozina Islam's recent reporting on the Ministry of Health's irregularities and corruption, as well as the organization's lack of cooperation and professionalism in dealing with the Corona problem."

According to Dr Iftekharuzzaman, this is a warning message from the corrupt to those who are determined to undertaking investigative journalism to preserve the public interest in the country through hundreds of difficulties.

He stated, "Its consequences are beyond our comprehension."

The executive director of TIB expressed surprise at how the lawsuit was filed under sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act-1923 and sections 379 and 411 of the Penal Code, drawing on the issue of state secrecy against Rozina Islam. 

Iftekharuzzaman added, "A selfish clique has sought to confront the entire media by catching Rozina without considering her identity as a journalist."

TIB expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that no one incidence of journalist torture has been adequately investigated and prosecuted, and requested the journalist's immediate and unconditional release for the sake of independent journalism and media, as well as to defend democracy, justice, good governance, and Liberation War ideals.