Staff Correspondent
A Dhaka court has granted a five-day remand for Nasir Uddin Sathi, chairman and managing director of private television channel My TV, in connection with the murder case of Asadul Haque Babu during an anti-discrimination protest. Metropolitan Magistrate Zia Uddin Ahmed passed the order on Monday after hearing arguments from both sides. The investigation officer, CID Inspector Khan Md. Erfan, had initially sought a seven-day remand for interrogation.
The remand petition alleged that Nasir Uddin, acting under the influence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government, used My TV to incite violence against student protesters. His provocative broadcasts allegedly encouraged Awami League activists and law enforcement to open fire, leading to Babu’s death on August 5, 2023. The defense lawyers opposed the remand, seeking bail instead. However, the court upheld the prosecution’s plea, citing the need to uncover the full conspiracy and identify other suspects.
Nasir Uddin was arrested on August 17 from Gulshan. In the case filed by the victim’s father, Jainal Abedin, on August 30 last year, 25 individuals—including Sheikh Hasina—were named as accused. Nasir is listed as the 22nd accused, while his son Tawhid Afridi is the 11th. The case stems from clashes during student protests in Jatrabari, where Babu was fatally shot. Investigations continue to probe the alleged media-led instigation behind the violence.