Bangladesh’s Journalist Rozina Islam wins Free Press Award
A file photo on May 23, 2021 shows that family members receive journalist Rozina Islam at the Kashimpur Jail gate in Gazipur after her release from the jail.
Bangladesh desk: Bangladeshi journalist Rozina Islam on Wednesday was awarded Most Resilient Journalist award by The Free Press Awards, months after she was arrested after harassment at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka.
The Netherlands-based organisation Free Press Unlimited announced the winner on their verified twitter handle.
Rozina, a senior correspondent of Bangla national daily the Prothom Alo, was harassed while collecting information from the health ministry on May 17. She was arrest later on the day and was sent to jail on the following day.
The journalist was released after a week in the backdrop of protests across the country. Different international rights organisations also protested at the incident and condemned her harassment and arrest.
The authorities seized her press card, passport and mobile phone.
Free Press Unlimited stated ‘the jury unanimously decided to grant this year’s Most Resilient Journalist Award to Rozina Islam from Bangladesh. A heartfelt congratulations for this courageous journalist!’
In an immediate reaction, Rozina said that she wanted to dedicate the prestigious award to all of her Bangladeshi colleagues who were doing and continuing their best journalism despite multiple hardships.
