ZCZC
BSS–40
MOMEN-ROZINA
Momen terms Rozina incident “very unfortunate”
DHAKA, May 20, 2021 (BSS) – Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today termed as “very unfortunate” the journalist Rozina issue as it appeared despite the government’s policy to allow journalists access to information.
“This is very unfortunate,” he said as newsmen approached him for comments on the issue while he emerged from a meeting with South Korean Ambassador Lee Jang-Keun at Padma state guest house.
Momen said the journalists could seek information and “we have nothing to hide” as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government is “press-friendly”.
He said Bangladesh media is playing an important role in unearthing corruption resulting in punitive government actions.
The minister also expected that no such incident would be repeated in future while he echoed with other cabinet collogues and senior Awami League leaders said Rozina would get justice.
Momen commented that the health ministry should have managed the situation while the issue occurred only because of some government employees.
He further said the incident also exposed the foreign ministry to questions from different quarters.
The Prothom Alo newspaper’s senior reporter Rozina Islam was detained at the health ministry on Monday for allegedly taking a photo of a document through her cell phone without permission and later was handed over to police.
A court on the next day sent her to jail rejecting a police prayer for a five-day remand in their custody for interrogation.
BSS/ASG/TA/AR/2008 HRS