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Published : 03 Feb 2025, 03:51 PM
Former state minister for industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder, who is facing charges in a murder case linked to the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, raised his handcuffed hands before the court and asked: "Is this an ornament fitting of a heroic freedom fighter?"
In response, Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi remarked that Majumder should not be identified as a freedom fighter.
“The Awami League has ‘tarnished’ the legacy of the Liberation War,” said Faruqi.
Former advisor to Sheikh Hasina Salman F Rahman, former law minister Anisul Huq, former Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, former education minister Dipu Moni, former mayor Atiqul Islam, former MP Solaiman Salim, former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and former Badda Thana Sramik League Vice President Golam Sarwar Pintu were presented before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate GM Farhan Ishtiaque on Monday morning.
When Majumder was brought to the hearing, the investigation officer requested that he be formally charged in connection with a murder case linked to the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.
During the hearing, when the former state minister for industries sought permission to speak, the judge granted him the opportunity.
Majumder said, “This is how we are being harassed and tortured with false cases. I want to say to this government - if there was rule of law in the country, this would not have happened.”
He continued, "They are filing cases, but there is no news of the plaintiff. They are torturing me with one false case after another. They are torturing my family members as well. They cannot even live at home. They are occupying our land and property. I am a brave freedom fighter.”
He then raised his handcuffed hands before the court and asked, “Is this the ornament fitting a brave freedom fighter? Is this why we liberated the country?”
"I have not done any wrong or engaged in corruption. Yet a false case has been filed against me. I want justice for it," he cried out in the courtroom.
"We have respect and admiration for the court. We plead with them to take necessary action against those who are harassing us with false cases."
In response to Majumder’s remarks, Faruqi said: “He [Majumder] is a businessman, not a political leader. He entered politics to evade taxes. He has illegally built a huge business in the area."
“During the movement, there were heinous murders in Mirpur. Students were shot dead. It seems he has come from a new planet.”
In response to Majumder’s comment about the absence of the plaintiff, Faruqi retorted: “Why will the plaintiff come now? The state has taken responsibility for these cases. The plaintiff will come during the trial.”
Addressing the accusation of "false cases," Faruqi countered: “Children have been murdered in such a cruel, merciless way—and he is saying, ‘false cases have been filed’.”
“Israel shot at Muslims in Gaza from helicopters. They [the Awami League] did the same. They burnt the bodies with petrol. And he is saying it is a false case.”
Addressing the allegations of harassment against Majumder’s family, Faruqi remarked: “You did not keep illegal assets in just your name.”
"If you do such things, your family will have to suffer the consequences. You have looted property. You have occupied private land.”
Faruqi continued, “Those who are freedom fighters, their honour has been damaged because of you. The Awami League has buried the history of the Liberation War. Was the Awami League the only agent of the Liberation War? Why did it tarnish the Liberation War? And today you are calling yourself a freedom fighter.”
“Do not identify yourself as a freedom fighter. Were disappearances, murders, the Ayna Ghor, in the spirit of the liberation war?”
In response to the public prosecutor’s statement, Majumder later retorted: “The state’s lawyer says, I am a businessman. I started politics during my student life. And I want to say with pride, that I have no business relationship with the government. I have not resorted to any fraud. I have paid taxes regularly.”
The former member of parliament from the Dhaka-15 constituency continued: “I am proud to be a freedom fighter. What the lawyer says is not true. I have built schools, colleges, and roads in the area; I have done development work.”
“I protested injustice. I protested all injustices starting from the market syndicate. I have always spoken in favour of the protesters. I told Sheikh Hasina, ‘Accept their demands’. I said it repeatedly.”
He continued, “Because of this, I was banned from going to Ganabhaban. And I challenge you - I did not occupy government land or misallocate any land.”
Later, the court granted the investigating officer’s request to show Majumder arrested in connection with the Mohiuddin murder case.
The case alleges that on Aug 5, 2024, during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, Mohiuddin was shot while crossing the area where students were protesting in front of the Mirpur Model Police Station. He was later admitted to the hospital but died on Aug 8, 2024, while undergoing treatment.
A murder case was subsequently filed at the Mirpur Police Station on Sept 12, 2024, in connection with the incident.
Majumder has also been arrested in the Rakib Hossain murder case in Mirpur.
