Court orders PBI to further investigate case against journalist Rozina

A Dhaka court on Monday asked the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate again the case filed against Prothom Alo senior journalist Rozina Islam for attempting to illegally collect sensitive government documents and taking photos.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Tofazzal Hossain passed the order after accepting the naraji (no confidence) petition filed by deputy secretary to the Health Services Division of the Health Ministry.

The court also fixed February 28 for next hearing.

Rozina, who is in bail now, was present before the court, said her lawyer Prashanto Karmakar.

On October 11, last year, Detective Branch, the investigation agency of the case, submitted the final report seeking exemption of Rozina from the charges.

Rozina, known for her health journalism, was detained at the Secretariat for over five hours before being handed over to police on May 17, 2021.

She allegedly clicked photos of documents related to government negotiations with pharma firms to buy Covid-19 vaccines, according to the case documents.

An FIR was filed against Rozina under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code on a complaint filed by the Health Services Division with Shahbagh Police Station.

Later, on May 18, 2021, a Dhaka court sent Rozina to jail after rejecting the police's demand for her five-day remand. Rozina was taken to Kashimpur Central Women's Jail on that day only.

On May 23, 2021, she walked out of Kashimpur Women's Central Jail after securing interim bail from a Dhaka court.