The Editors' Council, an organisation of newspaper editors in Bangladesh, yesterday expressed concern about the arrest of journalist couple Shakil Ahmed, former head of news at Ekattor TV, and its former principal correspondent-presenter Farzana Rupa in a murder case.
Shakil and Rupa were arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 21 August in connection with a murder case filed with Uttara East police station.
The Editors' Council, however, said legal actions can be taken against Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa if they have committed any crime outside of journalism.
They further emphasised that unethical journalism should be avoided.
A Dhaka court has placed Shakil and his wife Rupa on a four-day remand each.
The remand order was granted following their arrest in connection with a murder case. The court's decision came after the police sought a 10-day remand for both journalists in their custody for further investigation.
The remand was requested in connection with the murder investigation of Fazlul Karim, a garment worker, to ensure a thorough investigation. The police believe that detailed interrogation of the couple could reveal key details regarding the case.
Journalist couple Shakil and Rupa were recently arrested from the Dhaka airport by the Immigration Police and were later handed over to the Detective Branch of Police.
The Editors' Council also called on the authorities concerned to speedily file a chargesheet, frame charges and complete the trial in the journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder case.
In the early hours of 11 February 2012, Sagar Sarwar, then news editor of Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were murdered in their rented apartment in the capital's West Rajabazar area.
The couple's four-and-a-half-year-old son Mahir Sarwar Megh was home at the time of the murder.
More than 12 years on, investigators are yet to submit a chargesheet in the case, despite the investigation officers changing seven times.
Courts have deferred the submission deadline a total of 111 times, with the murderers and their motives remaining shrouded in mystery.
The Editors' Council also condemned the attacks on Daily Kaler Kantho and Radio Capital offices, owned by the East West Media Group, on 19 August in the Bashundhara residential area.
