'Why are journalists being harassed with murder charges?' Farzana Rupa asks court

The former Ekattor TV journalist and her husband have been placed on a five-day remand in a murder case stemming from last year's anti-discrimination protests

Farzana Rupa, a former journalist from Ekattor TV, has sought justice in court, accusing the authorities of "harassing" journalists by implicating them in murder cases.

She made the statement at a remand hearing on Monday in the murder case of Anwar Hossain Patwary, who was shot dead in Mirpur during last year's Anti-discrimination Student Movement protests.

Rupa and her husband Shakil Ahmed, who also worked at Ekattor Television, were produced in court for the hearing and CID Inspector Nasir Uddin Sarkar, the investigating officer in the case, petitioned for a five-day remand to question them in police custody.

Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi argued in favour of granting the remand, while Rupa and Shakil were unrepresented in court.

Rupa was a former principal correspondent for Ekattor TV, while Shakil served as the station's head of news.

Following the government changeover, they were arrested on Aug 21 at Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport while attempting to leave the country. Police later placed them under remand for questioning in connection with a murder case filed at Adabor Police Station.

"They incited the protests. They helped make [former prime minister] Sheikh Hasina more authoritarian. Their remand is necessary for further investigation," Faruqi argued at the hearing.

Rupa then requested the court's permission to speak. Upon its approval, she said, "If the state claims I incited the protests, then charge me with that. Why are journalists being harassed with a murder case?"

"It is said that justice has been established in Bangladesh. Why are journalists being harassed with murder charges? I leave this question with you [the judge]. I demand justice."

In response, Faruqi said, "Those who opened fire during the student protests are criminals and those who assisted in the murder share the same guilt. They will face the same punishment. Over the past 15 years, Shakil and Farzana have done everything necessary to establish Hasina's dictatorship."

"At a meeting with journalists at the Gonobhaban, they told Hasina about cars being burnt and. pointing to her enemies both abroad and at home, they urged her to suppress them with an iron fist. Now, Farzana Rupa claims she’s being charged for speaking out."

Addressing Rupa, the prosecutor said, "You helped make the fascist Hasina even more authoritarian. Journalists like Shakil, Farzana Rupa, and others, including Shyamal Dutta, have tarnished the media’s reputation. They’ve received millions in benefits."

When Shakil attempted to speak, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate GM Farhan Ishtiaque ended the hearing and approved their five-day remand for questioning.

According to the case documents, Anwar was shot dead in Mirpur on Aug 5, the day the Awami League government fell. His father Al Amin Patwary subsequently filed a murder case with the Mirpur Model Police Station.