Special Correspondent ; Dhaka– The High Court has granted bail to journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa in several cases filed in connection with the July mass uprising events.
The Court’s Decision
On Monday (May 11), the High Court bench consisting of Justice K.M. Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher issued the order.
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Farzana Rupa: Granted bail in 6 cases.
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Shakil Ahmed: Granted bail in 5 cases.
Release Status
Despite the bail orders, the couple will not be released from prison immediately. The court has issued a “rule” (a formal legal inquiry) regarding one specific case for each individual where bail was not yet granted.
Lawyers have confirmed that they must secure bail in all remaining cases before they can walk free.
Legal Representation
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For the Defense: Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua conducted the hearing on behalf of the journalists.
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For the State: Additional Attorney General Aneek R. Haque represented the government.
Background
Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa were originally detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on August 21, 2024, while attempting to leave the country.
Since then, they have been implicated in various cases related to the political unrest and violence during the July 2024 uprising.