Farzana, Shakil released on four-hour parole after death of former’s mother

Journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed have been released on four-hour parole from the Kashimpur Central Jail Complex in Gazipur.

They were released at around 6:30pm on Wednesday, according to Anand Kumar Shil, deputy jail superintendent of the Kashimpur High-Security Prison.

Farzana Rupa was being held at the Kashimpur Women’s Prison, while Shakil Ahmed was in the high-security unit.

Prison authorities said the temporary release was granted following the death of Rupa’s mother. Her family had applied to the Dhaka District Magistrate, requesting parole on humanitarian grounds.

The couple were granted permission to leave custody for four hours, they added.

Shakil Ahmed had served as Head of News and Farzana Rupa as Chief Reporter at Ekattor Television. They were removed from their posts on 8 August.

Police arrested them on 21 August at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

They were later shown arrested in a murder case linked to the death of Fazlul Karim in Uttara during an anti-discrimination student protest. Both were sent to prison following their arrest.