Investigative Journalist Of Bangladesh Arrested For Exposing Corruption In The Procurement Of Covid-19 Vaccine
Arrest
Of Journalist Rozina Islam Points To A Trend Of Crackdown On Freedom Of
Expression In Bangladesh
Main
Points
1. Rozina Islam
had been highlighting the irregularities in the health sector and mismanagement
in the fight against Covid-19.
2. Authorities
allegedly assaulted Rozina Islam and confined her to a room for five hours.
3. Case under
the Official Secrets Act was registered against Rozina Islam
-------
New
Age Islam Special Correspondent
20 May 2021
Police escort investigative
journalist Rozina Islam to a court in Dhaka.
----
An
investigative journalist of Bangladesh' Rozina Islam has been arrested for
exposing the corruption in the health sector and irregularities in the purchase
of Covid-19 vaccine. She was booked under the Official Secrets Act. Her bail
plea will be heard today.
For the
last few months, she had been highlighting the irregularities in the health
sector and mismanagement in the fight against Covid-19. This caused huge
embarrassment to the concerned authorities and the government.
On Monday
the 17th May, she went to the Health Ministry office housed in the secretariat
in Dhaka to obtain information about the procurement of Covid-19 vaccine. The
authorities allegedly assaulted her and confined her to a room for five hours.
At 12 night, she was taken to the Shahbagh police station and a case under the
Official Secrets Act was registered against her.
The news of
her arrest made international headlines. Washington Post, Al Jazeera, ABC News,
Associated Press, and other media houses published the news prominently.
The
Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) condemned her arrest and
demanded her unconditional release. It said that her arrest was an attack on
freedom of expression.
The Amnesty
International took strong exception to her arrest and demanded her immediate
release. It issued a statement that said:
"Information
about Covid-19 vaccine is in the public interest. The arrest of journalist
Rozina Islam who exposed irregularities in the health sector during the
pandemic points to a trend of crackdown on freedom of expression in
Bangladesh."
Amnesty
International further said that the way she was arrested and the failure of the
authorities in producing clear actionable proof against her indicates that she
was targeted for exposing the irregularities and corruption. The Amnesty
demanded her immediate release if the authorities can't produce proofs against
her.
Investigative journalist Rozina Islam
is seen inside a prison van in Dhaka
----
The famous
film actor of Bangladesh condemned her arrest and said:
"I was
dismayed to see her photographs in the media. The plight of the brightest
investigative journalist of our country hurt me. She has won many national and
international awards for her outstanding work and through her investigative
reports she brings out the truth. Her arret has caused severe damage to the
image of our country."
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-society/bangladesh-rozina-journalist-covid-19/d/124854
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