Renowned investigative journalist Rozina Islam has been on the receiving end of continuous harassment from Bangladeshi authorities due to her work.

May 17 marks one year to investigative journalist Rozina Islam’s arrest under espionage charges.

Rozina Islam, an established journalist for Prothom Alo newspaper, is still under investigation.

The court rejected the award-winner investigative journalist Rozina Islam’s request for the return of her accreditation card, passport and mobile phone. The journalist’s belongings still remain in state custody. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns this violation of press freedom. We demand the return of Rozina’s belongings. Journalism is not a crime.

Rozina Islam, the award-winner investigative journalist, appeared in court to defend herself on a baseless criminal charge for which she faces up to 14 years in prison. Today’s hearing, her accreditation, passport and mobile phone remain in state custody. The court requested hear investigative officer decide the return of her belongings and postponed the next hearing to September 19, 2021. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) considers this adjournment as an attempt to silence the journalist. We demand Bangladeshi authorities drop all charges against Rozina immediately. A journalist should not be punished for reporting on matters of public interest.

Rozina Islam, an award-winner Bangladeshi investigative journalist and a senior correspondent at Prothom Alo, was arrested after spending almost five hours in confinement at the Ministry of Health in Dhaka. Following her arrest, the journalist is facing charges of theft and espionage under the Official Secrets Act of 1923, a notorious law dating back to 1923, which prohibits access to confidential information. Her passport and mobile phone were confiscated during her arrest. Rozina lost her official accreditation to enter Bangladeshi ministries, resulting in her inability to exercise her journalistic profession after 17 years of work. If the journalist is convicted, she may face up to 14 years in prison.

Rozina Islam, an established journalist for Prothom Alo newspaper, is still under investigation related to the Official Secret Act, a colonial-era law that dates back to 1923. CFWIJ has learned that Rozina cannot pursue investigative pieces due to persistent surveillance since her arrest on May 17.

Rozina Islam, a senior correspondent for Daily Prothom Alo, is facing challenges as the state authorities continue to target her. According to the latest reports, the Financial Intelligence Unit has asked all banks to submit Rozina’s account details, even if she is listed as a beneficiary. Through its sources, CFWIJ confirmed that Rozina still does not have her passport, Press Information Department (PID) card, or mobile phone. We demand state authorities immediately return the confiscated belongings to the journalist. CFWIJ believes the state is targeting Rozina for her relentless efforts to expose corruption in the health sector.

Rozina Islam, the award-winning investigative journalist, who was confined for five hours in the Ministry of Health office and later arrested by police, was released on bail on Sunday evening on May 23. She was freed from Kashmirpur jail after a magistrate court of Dhaka approved her bail until July 15 after undertaking a bond of 5000 Taka with two guarantors and confiscating Rozina’s passport.

Rozina Islam, a senior correspondent Prothom Alo newspaper, was arrested after spending almost five hours in confinement at the Health Ministry Secretariat. The journalist was accused of taking pictures of confidential documents while she was in the office of Saiful Islam, personal secretary (PS) to the Secretary of Health and Services division.