May 27, 2021
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH, requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in
Bangladesh.
Description of the situation:
Rozina Islam, a senior investigative reporter for the newspaper
Prothom Alo, who has reported on cases of government corruption, including alleged mismanagement and acts of bribery by officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On May 17, 2021, Rozina Islam went to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Dhaka to attend a meeting with the Secretary of the Ministry’s Health Services Division. Officials of the Ministry held her for more than five hours and accused her of taking pictures of official documents containing sensitive information at the office of the Secretary’s personal secretary. While she was being held, Rozina Islam was denied access to a doctor, even
Investigative journalist arrested in Bangladesh under colonial-era official secrecy law Sahidul Hasan Khokon Investigative journalist arrested in Bangladesh under colonial-era official secrecy law
A journalist in Bangladesh known for her reporting on corruption was arrested on charges of violating a colonial-era official secrecy law.
The arrest of Rozina Islam, senior correspondent with Bangladeshi top news daily Prothom Alo, triggered protests by journalists and activists.
Rozina Islam was sent to jail after Magistrate Mohammad Jasim of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dhaka court turned down a plea seeking her remand in custody for five days.
The senior reporter had allegedly used her cellphone without permission to photograph documents related to government negotiations to buy coronavirus vaccines while she waited in the room of an Health Ministry official, according to case documents seen by The Associated Press.
9 remanded for 3 days over marketing of fake medical testing kits
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DHAKA, April 17, 2021 (BSS) – A court here today granted three-day remand for nine arrestees of three organizations in connection with manufacturing and marketing fake, date-expired and unlicensed COVID-19 testing kits and other medical equipment.
Police produced the arrested persons before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court with a 10-day remand prayer for proper investigation. However, Magistrate Mohammad Jasim granted three-day remand for each following the hearing.
The arrested are Md Shamim Molla, 40, proprietor of BioLab International, Md Shahidul Alam, 42, manager of BioLab International, Md Mahmudul Hasan, managing director of Axon Technologies and Services Ltd, SM Mostafa Kamal, 48, managing director of Hi Tech Health Care Ltd, Abdullah Al Baki Sabbir, 24, chief engineer at BioLab International, Md Ziaur Rahman, 35, office assistant at BioLab International, Md Sumon, 35, accountant at BioLab
Fake Covid-19 certificates: Rab asked to submit probe report against Shahed by Jan 19
Md Shahed. File photo Star Online Report Star Online Report
A Dhaka court today again asked Rapid Action Battalion to submit the probe report of a case filed against Regent Group Chairman Mohammad Shahed and 16 others over issuing fake Covid-19 certificates and illegally charging patients for testing and treatment by January 19 next year.
Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim passed the order after Senior ASP of Rab Md Nazmul Haque, also the investigation officer of the case, failed to submit any report today.
With this, different law enforcement agencies including the Rab took four dates to complete investigation into the case.