Hearing on journalist Rozina’s bail plea ends, order likely today

The virtual hearing on bail plea of Prothom Alo's Senior Reporter Rozina Islam has ended today in a case filed by Health Ministry official under the Official Secrets Act. 

After hearing, Metropolitan Magistrate Baki Billah said that he will pass order later in the day after scrutinizing related document.

The defence team of Rozina Islam said the journalist by no means can be held accused by law. 

"As per the Public-Interest Information Disclosure Act (Provide Protection) 2011 section 1 and 2, No criminal, civil and other departmental cases can be filed against the publisher for disclosing accurate information in the public interest," said lawyer Prashanta Kumar Barua while defending Rozina. 

Earlier, he said the Official Secret Act 1923 served as a mean to quell the Anti-British movement. 

"The journalist accused here did not go to any place run by the military or is in a secret location," he said. 

The defence team consisting of lawyers Jotirmay Barua,  Ehsanul Haque Samaji and Prashanta Kumar Barua pleaded to the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Baki Billah to order her bail at the earliest due to her sickness. 

"She had taken Covid vaccine that day (Monday) and also a patient of Diabetes. She needs to be bailed as soon as possible," Prashanta said. 

Lawyer Hemayetuddin Khan Hiron, Asaduzzaman and Tapash Paul as part of state prosecution presented the question that there's no guarantee that Rozina Islam will not smuggle the information that the file contained. Even if she needed information to establish news she didn't physically need to have the files component in her custody.

They further said, amid these trying times covid-19 pandemic the Prime Minister, Health Ministry are conversing with various countries, to acquire vaccine for their countrymen.

"Why would Rozina Islam need to attain the file amid these situations," Tapash Paul questioned. 

He also said the prosecution team will submit video footage next week that will further prove Rozina Islam confessed to the incriminating allegations and signed a bond.

The hearing started at 12:50pm and ended at 2pm.

Earlier on Tuesday, police produced her before the court seeking 5-day remand.

Rejecting remand plea, Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad fixed 20 May for hearing on Rozina's bail plea.

On that day, Rozina was sent to jail following court order.

Meanwhile, the case was handed over to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) on Wednesday.

Rozina was kept confined at the health ministry for more than five hours on Monday before being handed over to police.

Later, she was shown arrested in the case on charges of spiriting away "important" documents.

Investigative journalist Rozina, known for dozens of ground-breaking reports in her career, was charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act 1923.

Rozina Islam is known for her strong reportage of official corruption. She has recently made several investigative reports revealing corruptions in the health sector.