Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak has been shown arrested in a murder case filed with Hatirjheel Police Station in connection with the July Uprising.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Dilruba Afroz Tithi issued the order after hearing the investigating officer’s petition on Wednesday, reports bdnews24.com.
Speaking to journalists while he was brought to court in the morning, Palak said he had committed “no crime” and claimed he was “innocent”.
Sub-Inspector Purna Chisham of Hatirjheel Police Station, the investigating officer, made the plea on Jun 17 seeking to show Palak arrested in the case. The court set Jun 19 for a hearing with the accused present.
Palak was produced before the court around 10:30am. He greeted the journalists present and was later seen reading a book.
Standing in the dock, Palak spoke with his lawyer, Farzana Yeasmin Rakhi.
When the hearing began, Rakhi told the court that Palak would like to say something.
The judge replied, “Let the arrest petition be granted first.”
At that point, Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi opposed Palak’s request to speak. Eventually, the court granted the petition to show him arrested, but the former state minister was not allowed to address the court.
Rakhi said, “He (Palak) is suffering from back pain and is unable to move properly. He needs therapy now. We will file a petition seeking proper medical treatment.”
According to the case statement, on Jul 19 last year, Ramzan Mia took part in a protest on West Rampura Wapda Road. Around 10am, he was shot by the suspects and died on the way to the hospital.
The case was filed with Hatirjheel Police Station on May 26 this year.
Palak was arrested on Aug 15 last year. Since then, he has been remanded and interrogated in several murder and attempt to murder cases.