US press leaders urge release of Jouralist Rozina
Leaders of the US National Press Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute condemned the arrest of Prothom Alo Senior Journalist Rozina Islam.
They also urged the court that is scheduled to hear her case on Thursday to release her, reports PR Newswire.
"At a time of international crisis, it's more important than ever to have independent watchdog reporters looking out for the public interest," National Press Club President Lisa Nicole Matthews and NPC Journalism Institute President Angela Greiling Keane said in a joint statement.
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"The fact that government officials in Bangladesh are trying to silence a journalist only causes the world to wonder what they are trying to hide," it read.
An investigative reporter for the daily newspaper Prothom Alo, Islam could face 14 years in prison or the death penalty under the terms of the colonial-era law used to detain her, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Her editor told CPJ that he believes Islam's arrest came in retaliation for her reporting on alleged corruption and mismanagement in Bangladesh's health sector during the coronavirus pandemic.
Rozina Islam was kept confined at the health ministry for more than five hours on Monday before being handed over to the 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.
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the United States and around the world.
The National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's non-profit affiliate, promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement.
