Bangladesh Prothom Alo investigative reporter Rozina Islam went to the Ministry of Health to perform professional duties in the secretariat on May 17, 2021. There, the ministry officials detained her in a room around three in the afternoon. She was accused of taking pictures of classified documents . A case was then filed against Rozina under Sections 379 and 411 of the Penal Code and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act. Report by Sanjana Feroz.
Female presenters on Afghanistan's leading news channels are being forced by Taliban authorities to cover their faces on air. Taliban believes men and women should not be working in the same organization. Since Taliban took control last year, they have imposed a slew of restrictions on civil society, especially on women and girls to comply with the group's austere brand of Islam.Television journalists in Afghanistan have started covering their faces on-air— some by force and others by choice. Report by Sanjana Feroz. (AU course project)
People of Bangladesh came to learn about the existence of the 100-year-old 'Official Secrets Act' through the arrest of Senior Journalist Rozina Islam. In the last 50 years, no case has been filed under this act. Journalists fear this act is another addition to the other acts brought against them to stifle their voice. Law Minister Anisul Haque says there is a difference of opinion as to who can be covered under the British-era law. Anisul Haque says there is an official secrecy law for the security of state confidential documents in all the other countries. Report by Sanjana Feroz. (Bangla)
Digital security Act in Bangladesh has become a massive hindrance to freedom of speech. As a result of which, journalists in Bangladesh are losing credibility when doing a report. People of Bangladesh are losing faith on the journalists but what the journalists say is that their freedom of speech is being strangled because of the fear of DSA. Regional correspondents of different news agencies say, they face the wrath of the ruling party leaders when reporting about their anomalies and are being threatened to delete the reports, if they do not do so they are being harassed with DSA. VOA Bangla spoke to three regional journalists from Bangladesh who shared their experiences. Daniel Bastard, Head of Asia Pacific, RSF said they are advocating to repeal this Act as RSF thinks it is unconstitutional and not relevant with international practices in freedom of expression. Report by Sanjana Feroz