Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s private industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Huq have both been taken into a 10-day remand in a case filed over the killings of two people during quota reform movement.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mamunur Rashid granted the remand plea at around 7pm on Wednesday.
Earlier, the duo was brought to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in a police prison van under tight security, from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Branch (DB) office.
Md Omar Faruque Faruqui, former general secretary of the Dhaka Bar Association and member of the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, informed reporters at the court premises that the plaintiff was present in front of the court during the hearing. In pursuit of a thorough investigation and to identify other potential suspects, the prosecution requested a 10-day remand for the accused.
During the proceedings, the plaintiff broke down in tears over the loss of his child, moving the entire courtroom—including lawyers and onlookers—to tears, creating a deeply emotional atmosphere, Faruqui recounted.
Faruqui also noted that the plaintiff alleged in court that the defendants had conspired to kill his child and carried out the heinous act under mutual agreement. After carefully considering the plaintiff's statement and the prosecution's petition, the court granted the 10-day remand for the accused.
Emphasising the demand for a fair trial, Faruqui added that no lawyer had come forward to represent the accused, and they did not appear in court.
On Tuesday, they were arrested from a boat in Sadarghat area of the capital, in a case filed with the capital's New Market police station. After the arrest, the two were taken to the DB office on Mintu Road in the capital last night.
According to a source in the DB office, Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq were kept at the DB office jail cell on Tuesday night. There were no special arrangements for the country's wealthy tycoon and former law minister. Food for ordinary convicts was served to them.
Sometimes special arrangements are made for VIPs at the DB office. Food is sent from home, and beds are provided for sleeping at night.
But insiders say this was not done for Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq. They had to sleep on the floor like common convicts. After bringing Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq to DB last night, the DMP commissioner went there.
According to police sources, two people were killed in a clash in front of Dhaka College on July 16 during a Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon programme demanding quota reform. One of them is a student and the other is a hawker.
Two murder cases were filed at the New Market Police Station over the killings. Both Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq have been arrested as the instigators of these murders.
