The United Nations (UN) has expressed concerns over the harassment and arrest of daily Prothom Alo’s senior reporter Rozina Islam saying it looking at the matter.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres made the concern in response to a question during a regular media briefing on Tuesday (May 18).
Stéphane Dujarric said, “We've seen the media reports on the journalist that was arrested in Bangladesh. It is, obviously, something that we are looking at. It is something that’s concerning,”
On Monday (May 17) afternoon, Rozina Islam went to the Ministry of Health to perform her professional duties. She was detained for about six hours for allegedly removing documents from a file in the Health Secretary's private secretary's room. And her mobile phone was confiscated. Rozina also accused herself of torture. At one point she fell ill there. She was later handed over to Shahbagh police.
A case was filed against Rozina Islam at Shahbagh Police Station under the Theft and Official Secrets Act last night.
Rozina was taken to court in the morning where police sought remand for five days. On the other hand, her lawyer wanted bail. The court denied bail and remand and ordered her to be sent to jail.