Desk Report:
During the remand hearing in a murder case that took place during the July student uprising, former Education and Social Welfare Minister Dipu Moni emotionally asked the court, “Do we also have to prove that we are sick by dying?”
He was produced from jail in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman on Monday. SI Mainul Islam Khan Pulak, the investigating officer in the murder case filed in the death of Monir Hossain, a fake businessman from Shahbagh Police Station last year, applied for Dipu Moni’s 10-day remand. On the other hand, his lawyer applied for bail, seeking cancellation of the remand.
When the hearing began, the state’s lawyer, Dhaka Metropolitan PP Omar Faruk Farooqui, said that the accused Dipu Moni was a minister in the previous fascist government. He directly cooperated with the Hasina government to kill the students and the public during the July movement.
PP Farooqui argued that the incident took place with the direct support of the accused. Dipu Moni needs to be remanded for 10 days to uncover detailed information about what advice they gave to the government and why these killings were carried out.
Dipu Moni’s lawyer said in the hearing in favor of canceling the remand that Dipu Moni is a woman and during the July Movement she was in charge of the Ministry of Social Welfare. He claimed that Dipu Moni has no connection with this case and has only been involved in these cases for the purpose of harassment. She has been remanded several times in the past, so there is no justification for remanding her again.
After the lawyer’s statement, Dipu Moni requested the court’s permission to say something. When she received permission, she stood in the dock and explained her physical illness.
Dipu Moni said, “I am sick. I have been sick for a long time. But there is no adequate medical facility in prison. Our former minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun died after being hospitalized four times. Do we also have to prove that we are sick by dying?’
He further alleged that he was brought to the court premises to be taken to the hospital, but now he sees that a 10-day remand is being sought.
At that time, state lawyer Omar Farooq Farooqi countered and said, ‘The sound of Dipu Moni’s voice proves how sick he is. In fact, he is healthy.’
After hearing both sides, the court granted former minister Dipu Moni a four-day remand. After receiving the court order, Dipu Moni spoke to the lawyer with the permission of the court.
