Bangladesh: CFWIJ demands the return of journalist Rozina Islam’s belongings immediately
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September 20, 2021 – The court rejected the award-winner investigative journalist Rozina Islam’s request for the return of her accreditation card, passport and mobile phone. The journalist’s belongings still remain in state custody. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns this violation of press freedom. We demand the return of Rozina’s belongings. Journalism is not a crime.
The court rejected the request for the return of Rozina's passport, press accreditation card and two mobile phones, which were confiscated under the Official Secrets Act of 1923. Rozina Islam appeared in court on September 15 and requested the return of her belongings for the first time. After the hearing, the court requested to hear investigative officer Mohammad Morshed Hossain Khan on September 19, 2021.
According to the Prontom Alo, Mohammad Morshed Khan said the seized mobile phones of Rozina were sent for forensic tests and the reports were received. Addressing Rozina Islam's lawyer, Khan also included, the journalist was released on bail conditionally for submitting her passport. He added this requirement would have been violated, if Rozina’s passport is being returned now. Rozina's lawyer stated that her passport was submitted as requested, but there was no condition that Rozina Islam could not travel anywhere.
At the end of the hearing, the court rejected Rozina Islam's request to return her passport, press accreditation card and two mobile phones. Rozina Islam's lawyer, Ehsanul Haque Samaji, said they will appeal to the Dhaka metropolitan magistrate court against the decision of the court.
Rozina is facing charges of theft and espionage under the Official Secrets Act of 1923, a notorious law dating back to 1923, which prohibits access to confidential information. The journalist was arrested after spending almost five hours in confinement at the Ministry of Health in Dhaka on May 17, 2021. Rozina was kept in custody for seven days after her arrest without further clarification of the reason behind refusing bail.
The journalist reported in several reports that exposed the Health Ministry’s mishandling of the pandemic before her arrest. The journalist covered an alleged graft at the ministry, the corruption in the doctors’ recruitment process, and how they urgently needed medical equipment for coronavirus treatment that was left at Dhaka airport for months.
After her release, the persecution against her never ended. The state authorities continued targeting Rozina. The Financial Intelligence Unit authorities contacted all of the registered banks in Bangladesh for her account details in August. The letter asked the banks to release the transaction details of any account affiliated with Rozina.
The CFWIJ launched a joint statement together with 23 international press organizations to bring justice to Rozina. Rozina’s case is an example of the media crackdown in Bangladesh against independent media. Therefore, her baseless charges must be dropped and her belongings must return immediately. We stand in solidarity with Rozina and hope justice will be served immediately.
