Lawyer Claims Denial of Bail to Former ICT State Minister Palak Violates Human Rights

Tariqul Islam, lawyer for former State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, has claimed that keeping his client in prison without granting bail amounts to a violation of human rights.

Speaking to reporters after Palak appeared in court on Monday (September 28) in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegations of acquiring assets beyond known sources of income and money laundering, the lawyer said Palak had been in prison for a long time.

Islam alleged that Palak had been shown arrested in several cases and subjected to torture and persecution. He also claimed that denying him bail was a violation of his human rights.

According to the lawyer, Palak’s reference to “bloodied hands in rusty handcuffs” was intended to express that he had been deprived of justice.

The ACC case was filed on December 12, 2024, by its Deputy Director Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman at the Integrated Dhaka District Office-1.

The case statement alleges that Palak illegally acquired and possessed movable and immovable assets worth Tk 87,347,042 that were inconsistent with his known sources of income.

It further alleges that unusual transactions took place through 25 bank accounts in his name, involving deposits of Tk 320,495,314 and withdrawals of Tk 298,472,095. The complaint alleges that the transactions involved money laundering proceeds from bribery and corruption.

Palak was arrested on August 15, 2024, following the fall of the government. He was later remanded in several cases, including murder and attempted murder cases. He is currently in prison.