Palak says ‘bloodied hands from rusty handcuffs’ as report deferred

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has again failed to submit its investigation report in a case against former state minister for ICT Junaid Ahmed Palak over alleged illegal wealth and money laundering.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Shahjahan Kabir on Monday fixed November 23 for submission of the report, as it was not filed on the scheduled date.

Palak was brought to court but was kept in the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s court lock-up instead of being produced before the judge.

While being taken to a prison van after the proceedings, Palak raised his handcuffed hands and said, “Bloodied hands from rusty handcuffs.”

His lawyer Tarikul Islam said Palak made the remark to highlight his prolonged detention and repeated arrests in different cases. He alleged that Palak was being subjected to ill-treatment and denied bail, causing him to be deprived of justice.

The ACC filed the case against Palak on December 12, 2024, accusing him of acquiring and possessing assets worth Tk 8.73 crore allegedly inconsistent with his known sources of income.

The case also alleges suspicious transactions involving 25 bank accounts in his name, with deposits totalling Tk 32.04 crore and withdrawals of Tk 29.85 crore. The ACC alleged that the transactions involved proceeds of bribery and corruption that were laundered.

Palak was arrested after the fall of the Awami League government on August 15, 2024. He has since been shown arrested in several murder and attempted-murder cases and questioned in remand.