Salman, Anisul on 10-day remand over instigating hawker killing

A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed Salman F Rahman, the private industry and investment affairs adviser to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former law minister Anisul Huq on a 10-day remand, both of whom are accused in a murder case for instigating the death of a hawker during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Judge of the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka, Md Mamunur Rashid, passed the order in the presence of the duo.

Earlier, police produced them before the court with a tight security, and sought a 10-day remand for each of them to interrogate them in the murder case.

Pro-BNP and Jamaat lawyers chanted slogans on the court premises demanding trial of Anisul Huq and Salman F Rahman during the proceedings. Security reinforcements were bolstered by an increased presence of law enforcers at the premises.

Lawyers and other people outside the court threw eggs at one of the police vans escorting Salman and Anisul. The crowd was also booing the duo.

Two people were killed in a clash in front of Dhaka College on July 16 during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

One was Dhaka College student Sabuj Ali, 26, and another was a hawker Md Shahjahan, 24.

Two cases were filed with the New Market Police Station in these incidents and Salman and Anuisul were arrested as one of the case accused them of instigating the murder of Md Shahjahan.

Two lawyers, who came to represent the duo, could not stand for the accused inside the court as they were assaulted by other lawyers with possible political affiliations.

The hearing, where Salman and Anisul were also not allowed to speak to defend themselves, lasted only 3 minutes.

"The two accused were trying to flee using the waterway", Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Mainul Hassan told the FE.

Cabinet members of Sheikh Hasina's government went into hiding after she resigned as Prime Minister on August 5 this year in face of a mass uprising. Leaders of the ruling Awami League also followed the same path. Many of them have left the country.

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