Palak’s Prison Poise: Former State Minister Expresses Desire to Contest Upcoming Polls

Former State Minister for ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak—currently imprisoned over charges related to the July uprising killings—has expressed his intention to contest in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, saying he has overcome his initial distress and adjusted to prison life.

Palak made the statement on Wednesday, September 8, while being presented at a Dhaka court premises.

As he was being escorted to the courtroom, Palak told journalists, “Everything has an end.” When a reporter asked whether he planned to contest in the upcoming election, he nodded in affirmation and repeated, “Everything has an end.”

He was then taken to the courtroom on the fifth floor of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court. Inside the dock, police removed his helmet and bulletproof vest, as well as those of former Minister of Textiles and Jute Golam Dastagir Gazi, Rashed Khan Menon, and Atiqul Islam, who stood alongside him. Palak appeared calm, resting his cheek on one hand while conversing with his lawyers.

“I am doing well—mentally strong and spiritually uplifted,” Palak told his lawyer, adding that although he initially felt down, he had now adapted to his circumstances. He requested the media to convey this message to his family.

His lawyer, Saiful Islam (Saif), said, “He wanted his family to know he is physically and mentally fine. Although he claims he is not receiving all the facilities due to him in prison, he has mentally prepared himself and adjusted to his situation.”

At 11:08 a.m., the presiding judge entered the courtroom, and the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md. Yasir Arafat of Banani Police Station, presented arguments to show the accused’s arrest in the case.

State Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Suman told the court, “The accused were named in the FIR. The victim, Shahjahan, participated in a peaceful rally under the Mohakhali flyover within Banani police jurisdiction. During the rally, leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations opened fire with both local and automatic weapons. Shahjahan was hit twice—in the chest and abdomen—and died four days later while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. A total of 120 demonstrators were killed that day, allegedly under the direction of the accused. Therefore, we seek formal recognition of their arrest in this case for the sake of investigation.”

Following the hearing, the court granted the prosecution’s plea to show the accused as arrested in this case. The police then placed helmets and bulletproof vests back on the accused before escorting them from the courtroom to the detention cell.

According to the case statement, during the anti-discrimination movement on July 19 last year, factory worker Md. Shahjahan joined a peaceful procession under the Mohakhali flyover. Awami League leaders and activists allegedly opened fire, injuring him with two bullets in the chest and abdomen. He died four days later while receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. On December 18, Shahjahan’s mother, Sajeda, filed a murder case with Banani Police Station, naming 97 individuals as accused.