Shakil Ahmed, former head of news at Ekattor TV, has been held in detention since August 2024 and faces multiple murder cases in retaliation for his journalism.
Police arrested Ahmed and Farzana Rupa, Ahmed’s wife and former principal correspondent at the privately owned broadcaster, on August 21, 2024, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, as the couple attempted to travel to France. Officers also confiscated the couple’s cell phones and passports, a person familiar with the case told CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal.
The couple and Ekattor TV were known for their support of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in August 2024 following mass protests that ended her 15-year rule. Dozens of journalists whose reporting was considered favorable towards Hasina’s government have since been targeted in criminal investigations.
Rupa received threats after she commented on and asked Hasina a question about the protests during a July press conference, the person familiar with the case said. Rupa and Ahmed were then dismissed from Ekattor TV on August 8, three days after Hasina fled Bangladesh.
At the time of their arrest, there were no charges against the couple, according to their family. Their names were later added to multiple murder cases, which the family describes as retaliatory and politically motivated. As of July 2025, Ahmed is named in eight murder cases, including one registered as recently as April 2025, while Rupa faces nine.
“Every time we make a move, we get a new murder case,” said a family member.
Prosecutors have argued that the couple instigated unrest through provocative statements in the media.
The family says they have not received official documents for the last five cases, preventing them from filing for bail, and that lawyers have been told informally these are political cases and bail applications will not be accepted.
As of August 2025, Ahmed was being held in Kashimpur High Security Central Jail — on the outskirts of the capital — while police investigate allegations that he instigated eight murders during the protests in violation of the penal code, the person familiar with the case told CPJ.
The family says he has repeatedly been denied “division” status, a legal category under Bangladesh’s jail code intended to keep prisoners awaiting trial separate from convicted criminals. Since November 2024, neither Ahmed nor Rupa have been allowed phone calls. Visits are allowed every 15 days, but in Rupa’s case, each requires special clearance from the police’s criminal investigation department, which the family describes as harassment.
Ahmed suffers from high blood pressure and cardiac issues, and the family worries he would be unable to reach them in an emergency. In June 2025, authorities granted the couple four hours of parole to attend Rupa’s mother’s funeral, which they were taken to in handcuffs, the person added.
Police spokesperson Enamul Haque Sagor did not respond to CPJ’s July 2025 email requesting comment.