Nasir Uddin Sathi, chairman of private television channel My TV, has been sent to jail after the end of his five-day remand in connection with the killing of Asadul Haque Babu during the July movement.
On Saturday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rakibul Hasan rejected Sathi’s bail petition and ordered his detention in jail.
CID Inspector Khan Md. Erfan, the investigation officer of the case, produced Sathi before the court and appealed for his detention. In his petition, he stated that Sathi, holding an influential position in journalism, used his “unethical influence and power” to serve party and personal interests in line with the former Awami League government. He was allegedly directly and indirectly involved in the murder of Asadul Haque Babu and stood against the anti-discrimination student movement through provocative statements and activities.
Defense lawyer Mohammad Khairul Islam, however, argued that no specific charges had been proven against his client. He referred to an affidavit by the plaintiff, who stated that Sathi had been made an accused based on false information and expressed no objection if Sathi were granted bail, exemption, or acquittal. He also pointed out that Sathi is ill and suffers from various health issues.
In response, state counsel Kaiyum Hossain Nayon opposed the bail plea, saying, “This is a murder case. The accused faces specific allegations.”
After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail petition and ordered Sathi’s detention in jail, prosecution police SI Md. Sharifuzzaman confirmed.
Sathi was arrested from Gulshan last Sunday by detectives of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The next day, the court granted five days of remand.
According to the case details, Asadul Haque Babu joined a protest in Jatrabari’s “Paka Road” area on August 5 last year during the July movement. Around 2:30 pm, he was shot dead allegedly by the accused.
Babu’s father, Zainal Abedin, later filed a murder case with Jatrabari Police Station on August 30 of the same year, naming 25 people including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sathi’s son, Touhid Afridi, was also listed among the accused.
