Hope the ‘misunderstanding’ will be solved: info minister

Information Mnister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said the Rozina issue was an unwanted incident and hoped all the misunderstanding will be solved after her bail.

"We have to work, we have to ensure free flow of information and at the same time, we have to obey the law," said the minister during a meeting with leaders of different journalist organisations at his office in the secretariat.

Former and current leaders of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Dhaka Union of Journalists, Jatiya Press Club, Broadcast Journalist Centre, Dhaka Reporters' Unity and Editors Forum took part in the meeting.

"What happened there [at the health ministry] is a matter of investigation and the facts will come out through investigation," said the minister.

If any unjust behaviour happened with her, it will also come out in investigation, and if it was the case then it is not acceptable, he said.

About the Official Secrets Act 1923, the minister said official secrecy is still active in India and Pakistan and around 40 other commonwealth countries of the world.

The minister also hoped the mass media workers' protection law will be finalised  soon.

"We received it from the ministry of law over two months back but there were many observations and our ministry could not solve those observations unilaterally, and due to the coronavirus pandemic, there were some delays," he said.

Responding to a question about the abuse of Digital Security Act, the minister said the law was formulated to ensure security of people of the country, but there is always an opportunity to misuse a law.

"I am trying to stop its misuse," he said. "I want to work together with you to stop misuse of the act."

About displaying partial videos of the Rozina incident on the health ministry's Facebook page, the minister said he will talk with the ministry in this regard.

Noted journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said this is for the first time in the history of Bangladesh that Official Secrets Act 1923 was applied.

Former president of BFUJ Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul said four cases were filed against journalists in India and the supreme court of India rejected the cases, as according to the court there is a difference in definition of spying and journalism.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said granting bail to journalist Rozina Islam proves that the court is totally independent and there is no intervention of the government in this regard, reports BSS.

He made the remark at an online discussion on 'UN Global Road Safety Week' from his official residence.

Jatiya Party chairman and deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader yesterday said only granting bail to Rozina Islam is not enough; the case against her should be withdrawn.

The Official Secrets Act is against the constitution, democracy and Right to Information Act. This law, which was enacted to keep the British Empire afloat, is now unnecessary, he said in a statement.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir meanwhile alleged that the lower court has issued a 'dictated' order by granting a conditional bail to Rozina Islam.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson's Gulshan office yesterday, he said, "After waiting for the instruction (from the government) and buying time, you've given the bail on the condition that she can't go abroad and on a bond of Tk 5,000... We think this a dictated verdict."

The BNP leader said many journalists were subjected to repression and imprisonment during the rule of the current government while many of them were forced to leave the country.

Journalists from different organisations demanded that the case against Rozina be withdrawn, and the health ministry employees and officials who were involved in assaulting Rozina be brought to book.

Bangladesh Mufassal Journalist Foundation organized the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club.

Convener of Nagorik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna at the rally said this government could not prove anything against Rozina, but her bail on condition of submitting her passport. "It means a warning to those involved in writing," he said.

Journalist leader Shawkat Mahmud said Rozina disclosed the corruption of the health ministry during the coronavirus and this government stands by corruption.

To protest arrest of Rozina, leaders and activists of Bangladesh Students' Union were obstructed by police personnel while they were marching to the health ministry in protest  yesterday noon in front of gate-5 of Secretariat building.

They were demanding removal of health minister and additional health secretary for corruption in health sector.

The demonstration began from Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University around 12:30pm.

According to eyewitnesses, at around 1pm, the agitators reached the Secretariat building and chanted slogans, when a team of police personnel obstructed them and created barricades to halt their march.

Dipok Shil, general secretary of Bangladesh Students' Union, alleged that a group of police had reached there before they arrived and obstructed them.

Denying the allegation, Mamun Ur Rashid, officer in charge (OC) of Shahbag Police Station, said protestors held their programme peacefully. Police did not obstruct them.