DESK REPORT: Demanding unconditional release, withdrawal of false case and exemplary punishment against the officials and staffers who were involved in an attack on Rozina Islam, a senior reporter of a national bengali daily Prothom Alo on Monday at secretariat, journalists in Rangamati formed a ‘Human Chain’ at New Court Building area in the town on Tuesday morning.

Rangamati Press Club organised the programme.

Rozina Islam was came in under an attack by the few officials and staffers at the office room of health secretary on Monday. The attackers confined her around six hours and tortured on her physically when she went there to coverage of investigative report on health sector. At one stage, Rozina became unconscious and fell to the floor.

Receiving the news, journalists of different print and electronics medias who were also on duty at the secretariat at that time, went there and tried to free Rozina from the wraths of the attackers.

Later on the day, police took Rozina in their custody from the secretariat and a false case was filed under the official secret act against her. She was sent to jail after producing in a Dhaka’s court on Tuesday.

Earlier, Rozina reported on severe corruption in the health sector which made the attackers and concerned authorities furious and aggrieved over the report.

Venting their anger, journalists further said that the countrymen never expect such a heinous attack on a newsman by misusing power. The image of the government will be at stake and there will be a big misunderstanding between the media men and the government which will hamper nascent democracy and the ongoing development, they pointed out.

They urged the government to take strict action against all the corrupt officials and staffers for greater interest.

Newsmen vehemently condemned the incident and demanded immediate unconditional release of Rozina by withdrawing the false case and exemplary punishment of the attackers.

Chaired by president of Rangamati Press Club, Sushil Prasad Chakma, the protest rally was also addressed among others, by its secretary Nandan Dannath, joint secretary Saykat Ranjan Chowdhury, Mohammed Solyman and Fatema Jannat Mumu. (Reproduce of this content is a violation of copywrite act).