The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has stayed the bail granted by the High Court to journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa in 10 separate cases.
Justice Md Rezaul Huque, chamber judge of the Appellate Division, passed the order on Sunday after a petition was filed by the state challenging the High Court’s bail order.
Earlier on 11 May, the High Court had granted bail to Farzana Rupa in six cases and to Shakil Ahmed in five cases.
During the proceedings, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua represented the journalists.
Shakil Ahmed previously served as head of news, while Farzana Rupa worked as chief reporter at Ekattor Television.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, the television authorities removed them from their duties on 8 August.
The couple was later detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 21 August 2024 and subsequently shown arrested in multiple cases.
They are currently in custody.
Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing against Farzana Rupa in connection with alleged killings during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013.
She was shown arrested in the case on 14 May. The prosecution has alleged that Farzana Rupa attempted to divert the investigation into the Shapla Chattar killings into different direction.
