Staff Reporter :
Former Information Minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu, former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, and former Manikganj-2 MP and popular singer Momtaz Begum have been shown arrested in fresh cases related to last year’s deadly student protests in Ashulia.
The three former lawmakers of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinan regime were produced before the court of Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate Tajul Islam Sohag on Thursday for separate hearings.
Inu, while being escorted from Dhaka Central Jail, told police on the court premises that the address mentioned in the case documents against him was incorrect.
“My home address is written incorrectly in the case. Please write it correctly. Otherwise, letters addressing me will not reach properly,” Inu told a police officer before entering the courtroom.
Inu and Palak were brought from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 10am, while Momtaz Begum was produced from Kashimpur Jail at about 8:30am.
The three were seen chatting at the dock, asking after each other’s well-being. Palak, pointing to his lawyers, also requested prayers for his release.
Following separate hearings, the court accepted pleas from the police to show the trio arrested in new cases filed at Ashulia Police Station in connection with the violent anti-discrimination student protests in August last year.
According to court officials, Inu and Palak were shown arrested in a murder case over the killing of protester Russel Gazi, 27, who died in a firing allegedly carried out by ruling Awami League activists in Ashulia’s Gazirchat area on 5 August 2024.
The plea to show the duo arrested was filed by Sub-Inspector Md Anwar Hossain, the investigating officer of the case.
Momtaz Begum was shown arrested in two separate cases-one over the murder of local cloth trader Moniruzzaman and another for the attempted murder of protester Farhad Hossain.
Moniruzzaman died on 10 January this year from injuries sustained during the same Ashulia protest violence. Farhad Hossain, who was shot during the clashes on 4 August, filed an attempted murder case on 29 September.
The investigation officers in both cases, Sub-Inspector Mozibur Rahman Bhuiyan and Sub-Inspector Madan Chandra Saha, submitted applications to show Momtaz arrested, which the court granted.
Inu was initially arrested on 15 August last year, while Palak was detained on 26 August. Both have since faced multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and corruption. Momtaz was arrested on 13 May this year and also faces multiple charges related to murder and attempted murder.
After the hearing, the court ordered Inu, Palak, and Momtaz to be sent back to their respective jails.
Inu was arrested on 15 August last year and Palak on 26 August.
They were remanded in various cases filed on murder, attempted murder and corruption charges.
Momtaz was arrested on 13 May this year. She has various cases filed against her on murder and attempted murder, among other charges.
