Ekattor Television鈥檚 former chief news editor Shakil Ahmed and his wife, former chief reporter and anchor Farzana Rupa returned to jail on Wednesday after four-hour parole to attend the funeral of Farzana鈥檚 mother in Mymensingh.
Hosne Ara Begum, 76, a resident of Sehra Dhopakhola in Mymensingh, died at around 7:00pm on Tuesday.
Her namaz-e-janaza was scheduled for 5:30pm Wednesday at Marakuri High School in Ghagra village.
The couple, currently detained in jail in connection with multiple cases linked to the July-August mass protests, were released under tight security from the Kashimpur prison, said Kashimpur High Security Central Jail senior superintendent Abdullah Al Mamun.
Farzana is being held in Kashimpur Women鈥檚 Central Jail in two murder cases filed with the Uttara Purba and Adabar police over killings on August 5, 2024.
Shakil is detained in Kashimpur High Security Central Jail, being accused in 3鈥�4 cases, according to the parole order. In total, the couple are facing eight cases, according to jail authorities.
The Detective Branch police arrested them on August 21, 2024 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while they were reportedly leaving the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs approved the parole from 3:00pm to 7:00pm on an application submitted by Rupa鈥檚 daughter, Monphool Chandrawati, said Jahangir Kabir, deputy inspector general of prisons for Dhaka division.
The parole was granted under the ministry鈥檚 June 2016 guidelines.
Conditions of their parole included a prohibition on speaking to the media, delivering speeches, or participating in any discussions.
The couple were also instructed to return to their prisons within the designated time and follow 11-point COVID-19 health guidelines issued by the Cabinet Division.
