Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa sent to jail

A Dhaka court has sent former chief news editor (CNE) of the private channel Ekattor Television Shakil Ahmed and his wife, former chief reporter and anchor Farzana Rupa to jail after their 9-day remand was over in garment worker Rubel murder case at Adabar in the capital.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Farzana Shakila Sumu Chowdhury rejected their bail plea and ordered to send them to jail on Saturday (August 31).

Following a 9-day remand in two separate cases, Inspector Mintu Chandra Banik of Adabar Police Station, the investigating officer, presented them in court.

Their lawyer Advocate Rahim Mia sought bail, but the prosecution opposed it. After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court sent them to jail.

Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa were detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport along with their daughter on August 21.

They were scheduled to depart from Dhaka airport at 6:20am via Turkish Airlines to Paris, France, via Istanbul.

However, due to a case filed with the Uttara East Police Station, the Special Branch of Police did not allow them to leave the country.

Later, a team from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch took them to the DB office for questioning.

On the following day (August 22), a Dhaka court placed them on a four-day remand in Fazlul Karim murder case filed with Uttara East Police Station. Then on August 26, they were placed on another five-day remand in Rubel murder case.

During the student movement, several hundreds of students and people brought out a procession at about 11:00am on August 5 last at Ring Road area under Adabar Police Station. At that time, police and leaders of local Awami League, Chhatra League, Jubo League, Swecchasebak League, Sramik League, Tanti League, Krishak League and Matsyajibi League fired shots at them, leaving Rubel bullet-ridden on the road. When Rubel was rushed to a local hospital, an on-duty doctor pronounced him dead. Rubel’s father Rafiqul Islam filed a case with Adabar Police Station on August 22.

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was made prime accused in the case. Other accused are Sheikh Hasina’s younger brother Sheikh Rehana, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, cricketer Sakib Al Hasan, actor Ferdous and Barrister Sayedul Huq Sumon.