Staff Correspondent

A Dhaka court has sent sacked Ekattor Television workers Shakil Ahmed and Farzana to jail custody in a case over the death of a garment worker during student-led protests.

On Saturday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Farzana Shakil Sumu Chowdhury rejected their bail applications and sent the couple to jail.

Shakil was the head of news and Rupa chief correspondent at the private TV station.

Court Police’s Prosecution Department Inspector Md Asaduzzaman said the accused were brought to the court on Saturday after two rounds of remands.

According to the case dossier, on Aug 5 at 11am, worker Rubel joined a procession on Adabor Ring Road. Police and Awami League workers with 'direct and indirect instructions, incitement, help, cooperation, and direct assistance of the accused,' shot Rubel near Haque Saheb's Garage on Ring Road.

Rubel, after being shot, was initially taken to Central Hospital in Greenroad and later transferred to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. Following surgery, he was admitted to the ICU at City Care General Hospital and Diagnostic Center, where he passed away two days later.
Rubel's father, Rafiqul Islam, filed a murder case at Adabor Police Station on Aug 22.

The main accused in the case is former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Other defendants include Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, actor Ferdous Ahmed, and Barrister Sayedul Haque Suman.

The couple were arrested on Aug 21 at Shahjalal International Airport.

On Aug 22, they were placed on a four-day remand in the Fajlul Karim murder case.

The court granted a further five-day remand on Aug 26 in connection with Rubel murder case.