Journalists couple Shakil, Rupa Granted Bail, But Release Delayed

The High Court has granted bail to journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa in multiple cases filed in connection with the July mass uprising. Farzana Rupa has been granted bail in six cases, while Shakil Ahmed has received bail in five cases.

However, the court issued rules instead of granting bail in one case for each of them. As bail has not been granted in all cases, lawyers said the couple will not be coming out from jail immediately.

The order was passed on Monday by a High Court bench comprising Justice K M Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua represented the petitioners during the bail hearing. On behalf of the state, Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque argued the case.

Earlier, the High Court had fixed Monday for delivering orders on the couple’s bail petitions in seven cases, including multiple murder cases linked to the July uprising. Following a time petition from the state, the bench issued the present order.

During the hearing, the state was also represented by Deputy Attorney General Ashikuzzaman Nazrul and Assistant Attorney General Md Alamin.

On April 21, hearings on the bail petitions in seven cases—including several murder cases—were concluded, and the court set Monday for its order.

Earlier, on August 31, 2024, a court sent the journalist couple to jail in connection with the murder case of garment worker Rubel filed at Adabor Police Station in the capital.

Prior to that, on August 21, 2024, Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa were detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The following day, August 22, a court granted four days’ remand for them in the Fazlul Karim murder case filed at Uttara East Police Station. Later, on August 26, they were placed on a further five-day remand in the Rubel murder case.