Palak expresses anger to judge over being made to climb 6 floors, handcuffs worn behind

Former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak has expressed anger to the judge over being made to walk up to the sixth floor of the court during a case hearing. At the same time, he requested arrangements be made for him to wear handcuffs in front.

Palak said these things while standing in the dock at the hearing of the case over the killing of truck driver Md Hossain in Dhaka's Mohammadpur during the July movement, in the court of Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-4 on Thursday.

The day was fixed for a hearing on framing charges in the case. Of the 10 accused in jail in the case, eight including Palak were produced in court. They were later taken to the dock. At that time, Palak spoke after taking the judge's permission.

He said, "Honourable court, what kind of system is this? I saw the lift was working, yet I was made to climb six floors by stairs with handcuffs behind my back. I request the court to arrange for the handcuffs to be worn in front, considering the humanitarian aspect."

The judge then said, "This is for your security."

In reply, Palak said, "This is not your authority, this is the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The handcuffs could just be kept in front."

Prosecution lawyer Anichur Rahman said, "What he has claimed in court is unethical. He said such things to weaken the morale of lawyers. But lawyers are not intimidated by it."

At that time, addressing the prosecution lawyer, Palak said, "My distance from you is not very far."

Meanwhile, two accused in the case, Sazzad Hossain and Naimul Hasan Rasel, were not produced in the trial court as they were produced before the International Crimes Tribunal. For this reason, the hearing on framing charges was postponed.

Court bench assistant Belal Hossain said, "The date for the hearing on framing charges has been fixed for October 26."

Later, Palak was brought down by lift. While being taken to the lockup, he told journalists, "The lift remains broken only for us."

According to the case details, Hossain died after being shot in Mohammadpur on July 19 during the July movement in 2024. Two others named Sazzad and Shahin were also injured in the incident.

In the incident of Hossain's death, his mother Mosammat Rina Begum filed a case on August 31, 2024, naming 16 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as accused.

After the investigation, Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Akramuzzaman of Mohammadpur Police Station submitted a charge sheet to the court on November 23 last year, naming 34 people, including Sheikh Hasina, as accused.

In this case, 20 people, including Sheikh Hasina, are absconding. Arrest warrants were issued against them on January 26.

Besides Sheikh Hasina, the absconding accused include Awami League General Secretary and former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, former Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan, Asif Ahmed, Tarekuzzaman Rajib, Sheikh Bazlur Rahman and Nur Mohammad Sentu.