Harassment of Rozina slammed in parliament
Opposition lawmakers lambasted the health ministry officials for harassing and torturing Prothom Alo's Senior Correspondent Rozina Islam while she was performing her duties.
Such attacks on Rozina, who wrote several in-depth reports on corruption in the health sector during the pandemic, has undermined the image of Bangladesh before the world, they said.
The MPs made the comments while taking part in the discussion on the supplementary budget and cut motion of supplementary budget for fiscal 2020-21 at the parliament yesterday.
Many are not punished even after indulging in large scale corruption. But those who are highlighting corruption are facing various problems. A few days ago, a journalist was harassed in various ways, said Deputy Opposition Leader GM Quader.
He said the health officials tried to strangle Rozina and a case has been filed against her. "There are rumors that a sedition case can be filed against her," said Quader, also chairman of Jatiya Party.
"We want the rule of law, punishment for anyone who commits a crime. But those who work in the media have some responsibilities. Journalism is a pillar of the state. Investigative journalism is for ensuring accountability. It is the responsibility of the society to create such an opportunity for journalists," he said.
Another JP MP Kazi Firoz Rashid said a journalist can be arrested for committing theft and robbery. "But why they [health officials] have taken the law into their own hands. She was detained for six hours. She was not allowed to go to the toilet for six hours. Can a sick woman be harassed this way?"
"The United Nations, the whole world has talked about it. How can we show our face now?"
JP lawmaker Raushan Ara Mannan also criticised the health ministry officials for harassing Rozina.
"Why she was not immediately handed over to the police if the journalist did something wrong. Why she was detained and tortured for six hours. Countrymen are criticising it," she added.
BNP MP Mosharraf Hossain said it was not acceptable that a secretary-level official had tried to strangle her and torture her.
On May 17, Rozina was kept confined to the health ministry for over five hours before being handed over to police. It happened after the journalist went to the secretariat to perform her duties.
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