Bangladeshi journalist known for unearthing graft gets bail

A court in Bangladesh has awarded conditional bail to a journalist known for her strong reporting on official corruption amid protests at home and abroad calling for her release

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- A court in Bangladesh on Sunday awarded conditional bail to a journalist known for her strong reporting on official corruption amid protests at home and abroad calling for her release. Rozina Islam, a senior reporter for the leading Prothom Alo newspaper, has been held in detention since her arrest on Monday. Her lawyer, Ehsanul Haque Shomaji, said Islam must surrender her passport before bail is granted. Prosecution lawyer Abdullah Abu did not object to the bail request, and both sides told reporters that Magistrate Baki Billah mentioned in his order that mass media play a supporting role in democracy.