UN correspondent from New York
United Nations has expressed concern over the harassment and arrest of Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam. The global body has also said that they are looking at it.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said this in response to a question during the noon briefing on Tuesday.
“We’ve seen the press reports on the journalist that was arrested in Bangladesh. It is, obviously, something that we are looking at. It is something that’s concerning,” said the UN spokesperson when UN correspondent Mushfiqul Fazal drew Stéphane Dujarric’s attention to the harassment and arrest of Bangladeshi journalist Rozina Islam.
At the briefing, the reporter asked “On Bangladesh, I want to draw your attention, there is no minimum space left in Bangladesh for free journalism. It seems self-censorship is another dark part of the free journalism. Just yesterday, one of the leading Bengali newspaper reporters, Rozina [Islam], was kept confined at the health ministry for more than five hours before being handed over to the police. She was physically and mentally harassed by the health ministry officials while she was confined. Ms. Islam is known for reporting on corruption involving the Ministry of Health and others. Top to bottom are corrupt regime in the country. And another part is, those who are exiled, living outside the country, even at least three journalists I know who live in New York — Dr. Kanak Sarwar, Eleas Hosain and one journalist in another country Tasnim Khalil — they are also getting life threat in… outside the country from the ruling party supporter. So, what is your comment on this? Because journalism is very critical in the country both home and abroad, for Bangladesh.”
In reply Spokesperson to the UN Secretary General said, “Our position has been clear. Journalists need to be able to do their work free of any sort of harassment or physical threat anywhere around the world. And, obviously, that includes Bangladesh and every other country.”
He further said, “I think we have seen the very important work that journalists all around the world have done during the pandemic, and they need to be able to continue that work, wherever they may work.”
KH/
