Journalists demand withdrawal of false charges against Rozina Islam
Deputy Minister of Education Nowfel declared unwanted at DRU
Journalist leaders have demanded immediate punishment of those involved in the harassment of Daily Prothom Alo's senior correspondent Rozina Islam.
They also demanded withdrawal of the false case filed against Rozina Islam and her immediate release.
They raised the demand from a protest rally at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) on Thursday, organised protesting the torture and arrest of journalist Rozina Islam.
The rally conducted by DRU Executive Member Mir Mohammad Jasim started at 1pm and ended at 4:30pm.
Rafiqul Islam Azad, former president of the DRU, said, "The false case against Rozina Islam must be withdrawn. We need a united movement to bring Rozina out of jail. A steering committee with journalist leaders needs to be created to make a platform for this."
At the rally, DRU General Secretary Moshiur Rahman Khan said, "Such misconduct of bureaucrats will not be tolerated. A memorandum has been issued to the information ministry by DRU, demanding proper investigation into this incident.
Citing that Deputy Minister for Education Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel had made a derogatory statement on social media Facebook releasing a partial video of the harassment of journalist Rozina Islam, he said, "The deputy minister of education had lashed out at journalists. With the present committee in place, he will not be able to attend any programme of the Dhaka Reporters' Unity. I declare him unwanted at DRU. If he is made a guest at any social event, the DRU hall will not be rented out."
Demanding a judicial inquiry committee to investigate the harassment of journalist Rozina, DRU President Mursalin Nomani said, "Journalist leaders must be included in the committee. Otherwise, the inquiry committee will not be acceptable."
Addressing the government, he said, "Bring those who brutally attacked Rozina Islam under the law."
He said that one Rozina Islam can be stopped but thousands of Rozinas cannot be stopped. I warn the corrupt officials to be careful. We will unmask you through our reports.
"A protest rally will be held on the DRU premises at 10am on Friday demanding the release of journalist Rozina. The movement will not stop until Rozina is released," he added.
Mursalin Nomani said, "The demand has been raised from today's rally to declare the health minister and health secretary as enemies of the media. I am warning them to be corrected. If not corrected, the journalist community will declare you as the enemy of the media. If the media declares you as an enemy, you will not be able to go to half the countries of the world. You will not get a visa there."
Raju Hamid, executive member of the Dhaka Journalists Union, said Rozina Islam would be granted bail. Another day there will be a case against another. And we will take to the streets for his bail again. But how long will this go on? What we need now is a journalist protection law.
The protest rally was also addressed, among others, by President of Dhaka Union of Journalists Quddus Afrad, General Secretary of Reporters Against Corruption Ahmed Fayez, President of Telecom Reporters Network Bangladesh Rashed Mehedi, President of Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh Pantho Rahman and photo journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajal.
