Appellate Division stays bail of journalist couple Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa

The Appellate Division's Chamber Court has stayed the bail granted by the High Court to journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa in multiple cases filed over the July movement.

A bench led by Chamber Judge Md Rezaul Haque passed the order on Sunday (June 7) following a hearing on a petition challenging the High Court's decision.

The court also directed the High Court to dispose of the rule issued in connection with their bail petitions.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua represented the journalist couple during the hearing.

Earlier, on May 11, the High Court granted bail to Farzana Rupa in six cases and to Shakil Ahmed in five cases linked to incidents surrounding the July movement. Additionally, the court issued separate rules in one case against each of them without granting bail.

The High Court order was delivered by a bench comprising Justice K M Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher. The state was represented at the hearing by Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque.

Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa were detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on August 21, 2024. The following day, they were shown arrested in the Fazlul Karim murder case filed with Uttara East Police Station and placed on a four-day remand.

After the completion of that remand, they were again remanded for five days on August 26 in connection with the Rubel murder case. On August 31, a court ordered the couple to be sent to jail in that case. Subsequently, they were shown arrested in several other cases related to the July movement.

With the Chamber Court's latest order, the High Court-granted bail remains suspended until the relevant rule is heard and disposed of by the High Court.