A court in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka permitted police to interrogate two journalists in their custody for four days in connection to the killing of a garment worker. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ahmed Humayun Kabir passed the order on Thursday, Dhaka Tribune report.
The journalist couple — Ekattor TV’s former head of news Shakil Ahmed and former Ekattor TV correspondent Farzana Rupa were arrested on Wednesday when they and their daughter went to the capital’s main airport to travel to Paris via Istanbul.
The investigation officer of the case Mohaiminur Rahman produced them before the court and pleaded for a 10-day remand for the sake of investigation. They were scheduled to depart from Dhaka airport at 6:20am via Turkish Airlines to Paris, France, via Istanbul.
Ekattor TV is considered to be a pro-Hasina channel. Authorities fired the two journalists after Hasina’s government fell. There are many controversies against these two journalists including doing journalism in favor of Sheikh Hasina government.
Police claimed on Thursday that the journalist couple had incited Hasina’s former government to kill protesters. The reporters were arrested in connection to a murder case involving a garment worker who died during a demonstration on August 5 in Dhaka.
According to sources, Farzana Rupa and her husband have been charged under Articles 302, 114, and 109 of the 1860 Penal Code, charges that could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment. A Dhaka court refused to consider their lawyers’ request for bail and remanded them in custody for four days.
The Editors’ Council has expressed deep concern over the murder charges against journalists Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa, urging legal action to be taken with proper procedures. The council’s President Mahfuz Anam and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud emphasised the gravity of the situation in a statement on Thursday (22 August).
The council acknowledged that while legal action could be warranted if Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa have committed any offence outside their journalistic duties, such measures should be pursued strictly in accordance with due process.
The council also underscored the importance of maintaining professional integrity in journalism, firmly rejecting unethical and sycophantic practices. However, the filing of murder charges was described as a matter of deep concern by the Editors’ Council.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch has expressed concern about the journalist couple’s arrest.
The United Nations has affirmed the importance of journalist safety amid ongoing chaos in Bangladesh.
“The safety and well-being of journalists anywhere in the world is of critical importance for any country, especially for countries going through a transition. It is important that journalists be allowed to do their work, and that those who commit violence against journalists be held to account,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed deep concern over the arrest of Bangladeshi journalist Farzana Rupa and her family as they attempted to leave the country for France, urging the Bangladeshi government to ensure her safety and fair trial.
RSF’s apprehensions are particularly focused on Farzana Rupa’s safety, urging the Bangladeshi authorities to promptly release her and allow her to travel.
The organisation also emphasised that, should she remain in custody, her right to a fair trial and safety must be fully guaranteed by the Bangladeshi government, which bears primary responsibility in this regard.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed concern over the arrests of journalist couple Shakil Ahmed, former Head of News at Ekattor Television, and Farzana Rupa, the channel’s former principal correspondent.
“We urge authorities to respect the reporters’ procedural rights, ensure their safety, and drop any investigation brought in retaliation for their journalistic work,” it posted on X.
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