The High Court today deferred until May 11 the delivery of its order on bail petitions for journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa in seven cases, including over murder, linked to the July mass uprising.

An HC bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher passed the order following a prayer by Deputy Attorney General Ashiquzzaman Nazrul, who sought time on behalf of the state to continue investigations into the cases for one month.

Earlier, on April 21, hearing on bail petitions for the couple in the seven cases concluded, and the court had fixed today for delivering its order.

On August 31, 2024, a Dhaka court sent Shakil and Rupa to jail in connection with the murder of garment worker Rubel, in a case filed with Adabor Police Station in Dhaka.

Earlier, on August 21 of the same year, the couple was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The following day, a court granted a four-day remand in the Fazlul Karim murder case filed with Uttara East Police Station. Subsequently, on August 26, they were placed on a further five-day remand in the Rubel murder case.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua represented the accused during the hearing on the bail petitions, while Deputy Attorney General Ashiquzzaman Nazrul and Assistant Attorney General Md Al Amin appeared for the state.