Journalists Shakil and Rupa granted bail in July case, but still not released

❐ Staff Reporter

The High Court granted bail to journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa in 11 cases, including murder during the July protest. Of these, Farzana Rupa has been granted bail in 6 cases and Shakil Ahmed in 5 cases. However, they are not yet freed as there are more cases against them.

The High Court bench comprising Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher issued the order on Monday, May 11.

At the same time, Farzana Rupar has been scheduled to appear before the tribunal on May 14 in the ‘murder case’ related to the 2013 Hefazat riots at Shapla Chattar.

Farzana Rupa has long been a target of extremist groups including Hefazat for exposing the true picture of the violence and terror at Shapla Chattar in 2013, and in light of this, her name has been implicated in the July terror case, including the Shapla Chattar case, according to numerous progressive and free-thinking journalists, including her colleagues.

Barrister Jyortimay Barua heard the bail application in court today, while Additional Attorney General Anik R. Haque heard the case for the state.

The lawyers said that on Monday, a bench of High Court Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher ordered their bail. However, the court issued a rule not to grant bail to both of them in one case each.

Meanwhile, the same bench of the High Court was supposed to deliver a bail verdict on ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in four cases today, but it has been postponed to May 14. Yesterday, the High Court rejected his bail application in the murder case of lawyer and Shibir activist Alif in Chittagong.