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TL;DR
- Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq’s remand extended by five days over protester killing allegations.
- Both claim innocence, asserting support for the student-led quota reform movement.
- Arrests linked to violent student protests demanding government job quota reform.
- Protests led to significant political changes, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.
Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s advisers, Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq, have been placed on an additional five-day remand. This decision by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nurul Huda Chowdhury comes amid allegations of their involvement in the killing of a protester during student protests demanding quota reform.
Arrested on August 13, 2024, the two were accused of inciting violence that led to a protester’s death in front of Badda’s Fuji Tower. Despite the investigation officer’s request for a 10-day remand, the court granted five days. Anisul Huq, during the hearing, maintained their innocence, stating, “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 for a fair trial to the court.”
The protests, known as the July Revolution, erupted following the reinstatement of a controversial quota system by the Bangladesh High Court. This movement has resulted in significant political shifts, including the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The situation remains tense as Bangladesh navigates the aftermath of these events.
