'Is the lift closed only for us?' Palak fumes in court

Appearing before Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 in connection with the murder case of truck driver Md Hossain, Palak urged the court to allow him to be handcuffed in front on humanitarian grounds.

"I was brought up the stairs with my hands handcuffed behind my back. My request to the court is to arrange for handcuffs to be placed in front," Palak stated during the hearing.

Addressing the prosecution, he remarked, "The Public Prosecutor should realize that my current position is not too far from where he stands today."

Upon exiting the courtroom, Palak questioned the court security staff, asking, "Is the lift closed only for us?"

Defense lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi alleged that although one of the court's two operational lifts was functional, security officers forced her client to walk up and down six floors. She added that the rusted handcuffs and dirty bulletproof jackets provided by authorities posed health risks to the detainees.

Bench Assistant Belal Hossain confirmed that court proceedings were deferred as two other accused in the case—Sajjad Hossain and Naimul Hasan Russel—could not be produced due to hearings at the International Crimes Tribunal.

Eight incarcerated suspects out of 10 currently in custody were brought to court, while 20 other accused remain absconding.

The case stems from the death of truck driver Md Hossain, who was shot dead in the Chand Uddan area of Mohammadpur on July 19, 2024, while returning home during the anti-discrimination student movement. His mother, Reena Begum, filed a murder case with Mohammadpur Police Station on August 31, 2024.

Investigating Officer Sub-Inspector Akramuzzaman filed the charge sheet against 34 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on November 23, 2025.