Palak in Court for Charge Hearing in Truck Driver Hossain Murder Case

Former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak was produced before a Dhaka court today (May 21) for a charge framing hearing in connection with the murder of truck driver Md. Hossain during the July 2024 mass uprising.

Palak was brought to the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 premises in a prison van around 9:30 AM and kept in the court's detention center ahead of the scheduled hearing.

The police charge sheet names 34 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Palak. Of the accused, four—including Palak—are currently in custody.

Other high-profile accused in the case include Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, former Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former MP Sadeq Khan, and top leaders of the banned student organization Chhatra League, Saddam Hossain and Sheikh Wali Asif Inan.

According to the case files, Hossain, a freight truck driver, was shot dead on July 19, 2024, in Dhaka's Mohammadpur neighborhood during public protests. Two others, Sajjad and Shahin, were injured in the same incident.

A murder case was initially filed on August 31, 2024, against Sheikh Hasina and 16 others. Following an investigation, Sub-Inspector Md. Akramuzzaman of Mohammadpur Police Station submitted a formalized charge sheet to the court on November 23 last year, expanding the accused list to 34 people.