Virtual hearing on journalist Rozina's bail plea begins

The virtual hearing on bail plea of Prothom Alo's Senior Reporter Rozina Islam has started today in a case filed by Health Ministry official under the Official Secrets Act.

 Metropolitan Magistrate Baki Billah started hearing the plea at 12:50 in a virtual court.

 Earlier on Tuesday, police produced her before the court seeking 5-day remand.

 Rejecting remand plea, Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad fixed 20 May for hearing on Rozina's bail plea.

 On that day, Rozina was sent to jail following court order.

 Meanwhile, the case was handed over to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) on Wednesday.

 Rozina was kept confined at the health ministry for more than five hours on Monday before being handed over to 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.

 Rozina Islam is known for her strong reportage of official corruption. She has recently made several investigative reports revealing corruptions in the health sector.