Former Ekattor TV journalist Farzana Rupa has voiced concerns in court over what she describes as the harassment of journalists through murder charges.
Rupa and her husband, Shakil Ahmed, were brought before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Monday for a remand hearing related to the murder of Anwar Hossain Patwary, who was shot dead in Mirpur during last year’s Anti-Discrimination Student Movement protests.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) requested a five-day remand for the couple, citing the need for further questioning. Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi supported the request, while the accused appeared in court without legal representation.
Rupa, a former principal correspondent at Ekattor TV, and Shakil, the station’s former head of news, were arrested on August 21 at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport while trying to leave the country. They were later placed under remand in connection with a murder case filed at Adabor Police Station.
During the hearing, Rupa challenged the charges, saying, “If the state believes I incited the protests, then charge me with that. But why are journalists being implicated in a murder case?” She urged the court to ensure justice.
In response, Prosecutor Faruqi argued that those who supported the protests shared responsibility for the violence. “Those who fired shots during the protests are criminals, and those who aided them must face the same consequences,” he stated.
The court granted the CID’s request, approving a five-day remand for further investigation.
According to case documents, the victim, Anwar Hossain Patwary, was shot and killed on August 5, the day the Awami League government was ousted. His father later filed a case with Mirpur Model Police Station, leading to the ongoing legal proceedings.