Bangladesh Journalist, Critical Of Response To Pandemic, Released On Bail

Investigative journalist Rozina Islam was arrested in Bangladesh under the Official Secrets Act and later charged with stealing health ministry documents.

A leading Bangladesh reporter critical of the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic was released on bail on Sunday and vowed to "continue my journalism", after her detention sparked days of nationwide protests. Rozina Islam, 42, an investigative journalist for the country's largest Bengali daily Prothom Alo, was arrested by police Monday under the Official Secrets Act. She was later charged with stealing health ministry documents. Islam was granted bail after being ordered to surrender her passport and pay a bail bond of 5,000 taka ($60) by the chief metropolitan magistrate of the capital Dhaka, her lawyer told reporters.