'We've become mute, are you free?' Palak to journos from prison van
“We are keeping mum, brother, mum. Are you free? We have become mute,” he said
Former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who is under trial on charges of crimes against humanity, said he has "become mute".
He made the comment in reply to questions from journalists about his well-being when he got out of the International Crimes Tribunal after a hearing in a case today (17 December).
After getting into the prison van, he asked journalists through the ventilator, "Are you [journalists] doing well? As long as you are well, it's all good."
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Responding to his question, several journalists said, "We are doing well. How are you?"
Palak replied, "We are keeping mum, brother, mum. Are you free? We have become mute."
Earlier in the day, 16 high-profile individuals, including Palak, former ministers, bureaucrats, and political leaders, were produced before the ICT in connection with allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity during July-August.
The tribunal summoned them to review the progress of the investigation in a case filed against them, ICT Prosecutor Abdullah Al Noman said.
This marked the second time the accused appeared before the tribunal, with the first hearing taking place today.
Apart from Palak, the accused include former ministers Anisul Haque, Faruk Khan, Dipu Moni, Rashed Khan Menon, Abdur Razzak, Hasanul Haq Inu, Shahjahan Khan, and Golam Dastagir Gazi, and former state minister Kamal Ahmed Majumder.
Others summoned were former prime minister's advisers Salman F Rahman and Tawfiq-e-Elahi, former Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury, secretary Jahangir Alam, and Awami League leaders Amir Hossain Amu and Qamrul Islam.
