Former law minister Anisul Huq and former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak have been shown arrested in an attempted murder case in which a driver lost his left eye during the anti-discrimination student movement in the capital’s Jatrabari.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Huq passed the order following a hearing on Sunday. State counsel Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon confirmed the order.
Earlier, on 30 September, Jatrabari Police Station Sub-inspector (SI) Aowlad Hossain submitted an application to show Anisul and Palak arrested in this case.
The application stated that Anisul and Palak are currently in jail after being arrested in another murder case. It alleged that they played an active role on behalf of the then Awami League government in suppressing the 2024 anti-discrimination student movement. Preliminary evidence of their involvement was uncovered during the investigation, making their formal arrest necessary for a fair and impartial probe.
During the hearing on Sunday, defence lawyers, including Farzana Yasmin Rakhi, opposed the application.
Conversely, state counsel Shamsuddoha Sumon argued in favor of the petition. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court granted the application.
According to the case statement, on 18 July 2024, starting from 9am, the plaintiff’s friends joined the protest in the Jatrabari area. Around 3pm that day, while demonstrators were positioned on the flyover in front of Jatrabari Police Station, shots were fired at them.
During the incident, driver Mamun sustained gunshot wounds to multiple parts of his body, including his head and left eye. He was initially rushed to Kajla Islamia Hospital in Jatrabari and, after receiving first aid, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
After undergoing treatment there for three days, his left eye condition deteriorated, prompting his transfer to the National Eye Hospital. The case statement notes that during his treatment there, his left eye was completely destroyed.
