Pensive Palak: Former State Minister Requests Law Books in Court Appearance
Nearly nine months into his imprisonment, former State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak displayed noticeably altered behavior during a court appearance on Monday. In a marked departure from his previous composure and occasional gestures to the media, Palak appeared withdrawn, somber, and visibly pensive.
For the first time, he refrained from responding to any questions posed by journalists while being transported from the detention cell to the courtroom. Even the signature gestures that had previously drawn public attention were absent. Instead, he kept his head down for most of the time, with the visor of his helmet pulled down, maintaining a subdued presence both en route and inside the courtroom.
In a rare moment of interaction during court proceedings, Palak appeared to signal a renewed interest in legal studies. At around 10:30 a.m., he caught the attention of lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi, who was seated next to Barrister Tariqul Islam. Calling her over, Palak said, “I would like a few books delivered to me in prison.” In response, Rakhi asked, “Which books would you like?”
Palak replied, “Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Civil Procedure Code (CPC), Penal Code, the Philosophy of Development in the Digital Security Act, and the book titled 'Zunaid Ahmad Palak in the National Parliament’.”
Responding to media queries, Farzana Yasmin Rakhi later confirmed Palak’s renewed engagement with legal texts. “Before becoming a Member of Parliament, he practiced law in the High Court and lower courts. His legal practice slowed down once he took office. Since his imprisonment, he has resumed reading law books,” she said.
This shift was evident in Palak’s demeanor throughout the day at Kashimpur High Security Prison, where he has been held since his arrest on August 14 last year—nine days after Sheikh Hasina’s fall from power in a mass uprising. During a court statement, he had claimed to have hidden within the National Parliament complex during the August 5 uprising, although authorities later apprehended him at Shahjalal International Airport. An ISPR-released list subsequently confirmed that Palak was among those who took refuge inside Dhaka Cantonment, with his name appearing at the top.
Currently detained in connection with multiple cases, Palak enjoys the privileges of a first-class prisoner, including a private room equipped with a bed, table, chair, television, and a daily national newspaper. He also has access to over 2,000 books from the prison library and may interact with other inmates after sunrise when cell doors are unlocked.
Regarding Palak’s request for additional books, Senior Superintendent of Kashimpur High Security Prison Abdullah Al Mamun stated, “Inmates are permitted to receive any books except those officially banned by the government. However, all materials are screened by prison authorities before being handed over to the prisoner.”
The shift in Palak’s courtroom behavior and his renewed interest in legal studies may signal an attempt to reconnect with his pre-parliamentary roots in law, or perhaps a broader strategy as his legal battles continue.
