Journalist Rozina Islam receives prestigeous ‘Free Press Award’

Rozina Islam, a senior reporter of Bangla daily Prothom Alo, who was harassed for revealing corruption in Bangladesh’s health sector during the coronavirus pandemic, received this year’s Free Press Award for courageous journalism.

She won the award in the ‘Most Resilient Journalist’ category.

Last year this award was bestowed upon the Philippine journalist Maria Ressa who won the Nobel Prize this year.

This award is given by the Amsterdam-based organisation Free Press Unlimited.

Free Press Unlimited works in over 40 countries of the world for press freedom and excellence in journalism.

They have links with over 90 media organisations worldwide. The Netherlands foreign ministry provides support to the organisation.

Free Press Unlimited on Tuesday evening (12:15am Bangladesh time) announced the Free Press Award in two categories in the City Hall of The Hague in The Netherlands.

As police in Bangladesh ceased the passport of Rozina Islam, the journalist could not take part in the award giving programme in Hague. However, Rozina Islam joined the programme virtually.

Md Monirul Islam, husband of Rozina Islam, received the award on behalf of her from renowned Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir at the programme.

“I dedicate this award to those journalists of the country who are carrying out journalism amid hostility. When I walked out of jail, I vowed to continue journalism. And after receiving this award, I am reiterating my vow that my fight will continue,” she said in an instant reaction.

Free Press Unlimited awards the journalists in two categories – one is ‘Most Resilient Journalist’ and another is ‘Newcomer of the Year’.

Young Indian journalist Bhat Burhan was awarded in the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ category

Free Press Unlimited said Rozina Islam was awarded because of her great courage and perseverance.

As an investigative journalist working for the largest daily newspaper in Bangladesh, 'The daily Prothom Alo', she has uncovered wrongdoings in her country’s health spending and is now facing trial and tribulation in her country.

The jury unanimously decided to grant this year’s Most Resilient Journalist Award to Rozina Islam.

The jury said, “We express solidarity with the fight of journalists to uncover malpractices during this problematic time of the pandemic and calls on the government of Bangladesh to stop its harassment of Rozina Islam.”

On 18 May last year, journalist Rozina Islam was harassed while carrying out her professional duty at the health ministry.

She had been confined to the ministry for about six hours. She was shown arrested under a Official Secrets Act later and sent to jail. After five days, Rozina Islam was released from jail on bail.

Protest programmes have been held home and abroad protesting torture and case against Rozina Islam. Various local and foreign organisations also issued protest notes.

Though Rozina Islam was released on bail, the case against her has not been withdrawn as yet.

Her passport, mobile phone and accreditation card used to carry out professional duty at the secretariat have also not been returned.