A court has granted a three-day remand for Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in connection with the murder case of student Manik Mia during the anti-discrimination student movement.
On Monday (December 9), Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah issued the remand order after a hearing.
Earlier in the day, Palak was brought before the court. The investigating officer of the case, Sheikh Hadiuzzaman, a sub-inspector of Shahbagh Police Station, requested a seven-day remand. However, Palak's lawyers argued for the cancellation of the remand, citing his physical condition.
During the hearing, Palak's lawyer, Farzana Yasmin Rakhi, stated that he had been arrested in connection with 46 cases and had already spent 31 days in remand. On November 9, he was taken into remand in a case filed at Jatrabari Police Station. While in remand, his health deteriorated, and he was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. It was revealed that he suffers from back pain, making it difficult for him to travel or use a low commode, and requiring a high commode instead.
The lawyer further argued that despite multiple remand periods, no new information had been uncovered. Considering his health, she appealed for the remand to be canceled and suggested interrogating him at the jail gate if necessary.
In response, the state prosecutor and Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor, Omar Farooq Faruqi, argued that they had initially found evidence of 1,581 people killed during the anti-discrimination movement. He suggested that Palak should face 1,581 cases for these killings. He added, "The accused always claims to be unwell in court but has no issue committing killings when outside. More murder cases could emerge against him."
On August 5, during the anti-discrimination student movement, student Manik Mia was fatally shot in the head at Chankharpul, Dhaka. Following this incident, an individual named Raju Ahmed filed a murder case in Dhaka's CMM court, naming 79 individuals including Sheikh Hasina. Zunaid Ahmed Palak is listed as the second accused in the case.
