NHRC condemns detention of journalist Rozina Islam

The National Human Rights Commission has strongly condemned the detention of Prothom Alo Senior Reporter Rozina Islam for five hours at the Secretariat.

Rozina Islam was detained for allegedly taking snapshots of an official document at the Secretariat without due permission.

Nasima Begum, Chairman of the commission said, "The issue of detaining a journalist in the health services division's personal secretary's room for such a long time is reprehensible."

According to media reports, when Roznia fell ill, she was detained for about five hours without any medical treatment, which the commission considered inhumane.

A letter has been sent to the personal Secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health asking for an explanation.

The incident took place on Monday afternoon when Rozina went to the health ministry inside the Secretariat as part of professional duty around 3:30 pm. At one stage, she was locked in a room there and her mobile phone was confiscated.

Hours after detention, the case has been filed against her under the Official Secrets Act.

Health Services Division's (HSD) Deputy Secretary Sibbir Ahmed Osmani filed the case with Shahbagh police station on Monday midnight, said Harunur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Two more charges were brought against the senior journalist under 379 and 411 sections of the penal code.