by
Dhaka, June 11, 2025 : Journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa have been released on parole following the death of Rupa’s mother. On Wednesday (June 11) evening, Rupa was released from Kashimpur Women’s Central Jail, and Shakil from Kashimpur High-Security Jail, as confirmed by Dhaka Division’s Inspector General of Prisons, Jahangir Kabir.
According to prison sources, the couple, detained in separate jails over a murder case linked to the July-August mass uprising, was granted parole due to the death of Rupa’s mother, Hosne Ara Begum. They were released to attend their mother’s funeral in Mymensingh and to pay their final respects. The funeral is scheduled to take place at 9:00 PM on June 11.
On August 5, during the anti-discrimination student movement, a shooting occurred on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway near Uttara East Police Station, targeting protesters. Many, including Fazlul Karim, were injured. Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa were accused of inciting the government to suppress the movement. On August 21, they were detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while attempting to leave the country and were later arrested in connection with the Uttara murder case.
On August 8, Ekattor Television announced in a statement that Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa had been sacked from their positions.
AI/MR
