Salman, Anisul, nine others appear virtually in separate July Uprising cases

A total of 11 accused, including former law minister Anisul Huq and Salman F Rahman, former adviser to ousted fascist prime minister Sheikh Hasina, made a virtual court appearance on Monday in separate cases lodged over killings and attempts to kill during the 2024 July Mass Uprising.

The nine other accused are former state minister for industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder, former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former ministers Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu and Shahjahan Khan, former lawmakers Kazi Monirul Islam Monu and Sadek Khan and leaders of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League Abul Hasnat Adnan and Mostofa Kamal.

The 11 made a virtual appearance at the court of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuzzaman from Keraniganj Jail, Dhaka Metropolitan Police's prosecution wing, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Mayeen Uddin Chowdhury told BSS.

Of the 11, Salman, Anisul, Palak, Inu, Menon and Shahjahan made an appearance in a murder attempt case filed with the Jatrabari Police Station, while Kamal Majumder in a murder case with Mirpur Model Police Station, Sadek Khan in a murder attempt case filed with the Kolabagan Police Station, Kazi Monirul Islam Monu in a murder attempt case with the Jatrabari Police Station and Adnan and Mostofa Kamal in a murder case filed with the Kolabagan Police Station.

Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mostafizur Rahman on August 7 had ordered to allow the virtual appearance of the accused in militancy cases, top terrorists, or accused of high-profile political cases for security reasons, by keeping them in prisons. 

Room number 28 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court has been turned into a digitised room for such appearances.