A Dhaka court on Thursday ordered that Nasir Uddin Sathi, chairman of private television channel MyTV, be shown arrested in a murder case linked to the July mass uprising.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order following an application by the investigation officer, said prosecution department sub-inspector Rafiqul Islam.
Earlier, on 13 October, the investigation officer of the case, SI Abdul Wahid of Mirpur Model Police Station, filed an application seeking to show Sathi arrested in the case. The court fixed Thursday for a hearing in the presence of the accused. Sathi was produced before the court on the day.
The investigation officer presented arguments in favour of showing him arrested. ProsecutoJulyr Md Kamruzzaman Swapan also argued for the prosecution.
The petition stated that MyTV chairman and Awami League central committee member Sathi did not broadcast news of the movement on his television channel during the protests, instead covering other issues. It also stated that the investigation had found his involvement in the incident.
Dhaka Bar Association President Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan argued against showing Sathi arrested in the case, while the prosecution opposed his arguments. After hearing both sides, the court passed the order.
According to the case statement, Mahfuz took part in the protests at Mirpur-10 roundabout on 19 July 2024, during the July mass uprising. He was shot dead around noon.
On 14 February last year, a case was filed in connection with the killing, naming ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 49 others.
Police arrested Sathi from the Gulshan area on 17 August last year. His lawyer, Sohrab Hossain Rubel, said Sathi had so far been shown arrested in five cases.
