Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday urged journalists to look at the issue of Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam from a realistic point of view instead of considering it emotionally.
“Look at Rozina Islam issue from a realistic point of view instead of looking at it emotionally,” he told the leaders of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ).
The BJUJ leaders met the minister at his Minto Road residence a day before a Dhaka court’s order on the bail petition of Rozina in a case filed against her under the Official Secrets Act.
Also read: Rozina to get fair judgement: FM tells CNN
BFUJ president Molla Jalal, acting secretary general, Abdul Majid, senior journalist Syed Ishtiaque Reza, Dhaka Union of Journalists’ (DUJ’) joint secretary Khairul Alam, executive member Ibrahim Khalil Khokon and senior journalist Motahar Hossain were, among others, present.
Earlier, the newly-elected committee of Directors Guild, an organisation of television drama directors, met the minister at his residence.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Hasan alleged that an anti-state quarter is trying to take advantage of the incident involving Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam in the Health Ministry on May 17.
Also read: Order on journalist Rozina Islam’s bail Sunday
"The Rozina Islam incident has been politicised as the anti-state quarters have become very active to take advantage of it by capitalising on it,” he said.
The minister said, “No one is above law -- neither a minister and a secretary nor Rozina Islam. We’ve to be careful so that the anti-state elements can’t use any of our activities as a weapon to harm the country."
Besides, he said, various anti-state elements, who conspire against the country and spread false propaganda staying abroad, have also been seen to be very active over the incident.
Also read: Drop all "oppressive charges" against Rozina: HRW
The minister said Khaleda Zia’s former deputy press secretary Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari got a reply from an official on overall media by asking a question at the regular press briefing at the UN Secretary General's Office. “There’s an evil effort to conduct a campaign over that reply that it was the UN’s concern over the Rozina Issue. “The statement of a UN official and the UN’s concern are not the same at all.”
Dr Hasan said he got information on social media about collecting official documents from the Shipping Ministry and Home Ministry by Rozina in the past the same way she did it in the Health Ministry on May 17 and managing work for her husband’s business. “As an investigation is going on, these things will come out.”
About BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam’s comments on the incident, Dr Hasan said as BNP is speaking on the Rozina issue and it is clear that there is an attempt to give it a political colour.