Shakil Ahmed (journalist)

Shakil Ahmed
শাকিল আহমেদ
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Occupation	Journalist
Spouses	Farzana Rupa
Children	1

Shakil Ahmed is a Bangladeshi journalist and former head of news at Ekattor TV, a private television channel in Bangladesh. ^{[1] [2]} Ahmed is currently in jail on charges of abetting genocide, crimes against humanity, and murder during the student protests. ^[3]

Personal LIfe

Shakil Ahmed is married to Farzana Rupa, who is also a journalist. The couple has worked together in the media industry and were both previously associated with Ekattor TV. ^[4]

Controversy

In November 2021, Ahmed was accused of personal misconduct. On November 4, a former news presenter of Deepto TV filed a case against him under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act at Gulshan Police Station. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

In August 2024, Ahmed and his wife, journalist Farzana Rupa, were arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in connection with a case concerning the death of a garment worker Rubel, during student-led protests in Bangladesh. ^{[8] [9] [10]} On August 26, they were placed on a five-day remand in relation to a case filed at Adabor Police Station regarding Rubel’s death. Authorities alleged that Ahmed had played a role in inciting the previous government to suppress protesters, which they claimed contributed to the fatalities. ^{[11] [12] [13]}

On August 8, 2024, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Shakil Ahmed was dismissed from his position at Ekattor TV. A statement from Mustafa Azad, on behalf of the channel’s management, confirmed their dismissal. ^[14]

The detention of Ahmed and Rupa prompted statements from several international media organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM), and The Editors' Council. These organizations called for their release, expressing concerns about press freedom in Bangladesh. ^{[15] [16] [17] [18] [19]}

See also

Persecution of Journalists under Bangladesh's Interim Government (2024–25)

References

1. "Journalist couple Shakil, Rupa land in jail after two rounds of questioning" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
2. "SC suspends bail of journalist couple Shakil, Rupa".
3. "Arrest of journos Shakil-Rupa in murder case concerning: Editors' Council" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
4. "Journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa detained" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
5. "Woman accuses Shakil Ahmed, head of news at Ekattor TV, of rape, foeticide" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
6. "Ekattor TV journalist Shakil Ahmed gets 4 weeks' anticipatory bail" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
7. "Shakil Ahmed, head of news at Ekattor TV, gets anticipatory bail in a rape case" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
8. "Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa sent to jail" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
9. "Journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa detained" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
10. "Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa arrested at Dhaka airport" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
11. "Legal team files UN complaint over jailed Bangladeshi journalists" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
12. "Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa on 5-day remand" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
13. "Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa placed on 5-day remand" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
14. "Journalists Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa sacked from Ekattor Television" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
15. "CPJ worried over arrest of journo couple Rupa, Shakil" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
16. "Arrest of journos Shakil-Rupa in murder case concerning: Editors' Council" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
17. "Shakil Ahmed" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.
18. "Bangladesh: Two journalists arrested and harassed". 27 August 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
19. "Bangladesh: Journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed must be released" . Retrieved 7 March 2025.