A Dhaka court today placed Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former state minister for posts, telecommunications, and information technology, on a two-day remand in connection with an attempted murder case filed with the Mohammadpur Police Station.

The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate GM Farhan Ishtiaque also granted two-day remands for former Awami League lawmaker Sadek Khan and former North City Ward Councillor Salimullah Salu, who were accused in the same case.

The investigation officer, Mission Biswas, a sub-inspector of the Detective Branch of Police, sought a five-day remand for each of the three accused but the court granted two days each.

During the hearing, Palak's lawyer, Farzana Yeasmin Rakhi, argued against the remand prayer, saying that her client had already been taken on remand for 34 out of 58 days granted in separate cases filed across different police stations in the capital.

She told the court that Palak had fallen sick during interrogation on remand previously and had to be hospitalised for treatment.

She requested the court to reject the remand prayer.

The prosecution, however, countered the defence arguments, alleging that Palak was directly involved in the incident. They said that during the quota reform movement, Palak had switched off internet services and was present at Ganobhaban, where a plan to attack protesters was allegedly devised.

The case involves the shooting of bus driver Md Insan Ali at Mohammadpur bus stand around 8:30pm on July 19 last year during the quota reform movement. Insan was subsequently taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for treatment.