Key allies of Sheikh Hasina remanded in custody on murder charges – Firstpost

A Bangladeshi court on Saturday remanded Salman F. Rahman, adviser on private sector affairs to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Law Minister Anisul Huq, former Social Welfare Minister Dipu Moni and two others in different custody conditions for questioning in four murder cases.

According to a report in the Daily Star newspaper, Dhaka City Magistrate Mohammad Jashim issued the relevant orders. In addition to the three, former faction leader ASM Feroz and former army officer Major General Ziaul Ahsan were also remanded in custody in murder cases.

Salman, Anisul and Ziaul were again sentenced to ten days' remand in two murder cases filed at New Market and Lalbagh police stations. Dipu Moni was sentenced to four days' remand in a case filed at Badda police station and Feroz was sentenced to seven days' remand in a case filed at Bhatara police station.

Many members of the Awami League party led by Hasina have been in prison since the new interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus took power on August 8 following the overthrow of the previous government.

Five more murder charges were filed on Thursday against former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her former cabinet ministers and senior police officials, bringing the total number of charges against them to 49.

In 40 cases, murder was alleged, in seven cases crimes against humanity and genocide, in one case kidnapping and in one case an attack on a procession of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Hasina, the 76-year-old Awami League leader, resigned on August 5 and fled to India following unprecedented anti-government student protests against her government over a controversial job quota system.

Hasina and 46 others were charged with killing a street vendor during protests in Ashulia, Dhaka, on August 4.

The accused included Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former AL MPs Md Saiful Islam and Talukdar Mohammad Towhid Jung Murad and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.