'We were supportive of the movement': Anisul tells court as remand against him, Salman extended for 5 more days

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's private industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Huq have been placed on a fresh five-day remand in connection with the killing of a protester in front of Badda's Fuji Tower during recent student protests.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nurul Huda Chowdhury passed the order after police produced the duo before his court, seeking a 10-day remand for each today (29 August).

During the hearing, Anisul Huq told the court, "Both Salman and I were supportive of the quota reform movement. I'm not guilty, and I don't know anything about the killing. I ask the court for a fair trial."

In his remand prayer, the investigation officer of the case Sub-Inspector Rezaul Alam of Badda Police Station, said, "Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq are the fourth and fifth accused in the case. According to reliable sources, they incited the other accused and gave orders to kill the victim. We need 10 more days to question them about the incident."

They were arrested on 13 August in a case filed with New Market police station.

On 14 August, another Dhaka court placed Anisul and Salman on a 10-day remand in two murder cases filed against them at the New Market and Lalbagh police stations. 

They were subsequently remanded for another 10 days on 24 August, which will end on 3 September, after which they will be placed on a further five-day remand in the case filed at Badda Police Station.

According to police sources, two people were killed in a clash in front of Dhaka College on 16 July during the student protest demanding quota reform. Two murder cases were filed at New Market Police Station over the incidents.

One of the deceased, Shobuj Ali, was a student of Dhaka College. After his death, the Chhatra League claimed that he was one of their members. Salman and Anisul were arrested as the alleged instigators of the killings, according to sources.

Salman is the co-founder and vice chairman of Beximco Group, one of the largest business and industrial conglomerates in the country. He was also the chairman of IFIC Bank but was removed from the position following the fall of the Hasina government.

 Previously, Salman served as the private sector development affairs adviser to Sheikh Hasina. He was elected as a member of parliament from the Dhaka-1 constituency (Dohar and Nawabganj) on an Awami League ticket.

 Anisul Huq was the Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs from 2014 to 2024. He was elected as a member of parliament from the Brahmanbaria-4 constituency (Kasba-Akhaura) as a candidate of the Awami League. Before entering politics, he was a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.