Ex-minister Qamrul remanded, ex-MP Salim arrested in July Uprising case

A Dhaka court has placed former food minister Qamrul Islam on a five-day remand and ordered showing  former member of parliament Mohammad Solaiman Salim arrested in a murder case linked to last year's July Uprising.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sadekur Rahman passed the order this morning (24 September) after hearing applications from police and defence lawyers.

The two were physically present at the court.

Sub-Inspector Mainul Islam Khan Pulok of Shahbagh Police Station, the investigating officer, sought a 10-day remand for Kamrul and applied to have Salim shown arrested in the case.

State counsel Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon supported the request, while defence lawyers opposed it, seeking bail after cancellation of remand.

Qamrul's lawyer, Morshed Hossain Shahin, opposed the remand petition during the hearing.

"He is a freedom fighter and 76 years old. He suffers from various illnesses, and even minor issues with food can cause poisoning," he told the court.

"This is his 23rd case. In such circumstances, he is not in a condition to be remanded. He is also suffering from cancer, and something serious could happen to him," the lawyer argued.

Shahin added that his client had been repeatedly affected by having to appear in court.

"He should be interrogated at the jail gate. Moreover, he was not the MP of the area in question. How can the same person be present in different areas at the same time?"

In response, state counsel argued in favour of the remand.

"He was an important minister in former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's government and a praesidium member of the Awami League. There are many things to know from him," he said, noting that the police had sought a 10-day remand to gather accurate information.

Following the hearing, the court granted five days' remand for Qamrul and accepted the plea to show Salim as arrested.

According to the case statement, jhut (scrap fabric) trader Md Monir was killed during the anti-discrimination student movement on 5 August last year.

He had joined students and locals in Chankharpul under Shahbagh Police Station when he was shot and killed around noon.

Monir's wife, Rozina Akter, later filed a murder case at Shahbagh Police Station on 14 March, naming the accused.

Notably, Qamrul was arrested on 18 November in Dhaka's Uttara and is facing multiple ongoing cases, including murder and corruption.

Meanwhile, Salim was arrested on 14 November in the city's Gulshan area and was jailed in separate murder cases linked to the July Uprising.