Court Correspondent

At least 12 people, including Salman F Rahman, former private investment and industry advisor to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former law minister Anisul Huq, and former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, have been shown arrested in separate cases filed in connection with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at different police stations in the capital.

Others shown arrested in the cases are former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, NASA Group Chairman and ex-chairman of EXIM Bank Nazrul Islam Majumdar, Workers Party President and former social welfare minister Rashed Khan Menon, former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Desh TV Managing Editor Arif Hasan, journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed, Assistant Police Commissioner Iftekhar Mahmud, and former education secretary of Pallabi Ward No. 15 Awami League Abdul Malek.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuzzaman issued the order after a hearing on Wednesday. Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court confirmed the details.

Police brought the suspects to the court from jail. Then the respective investigation officers petitioned to show them arrested in separate cases filed with different police stations in Dhaka.

Faruqi, representing the state, petitioned to show them arrested while the defence counsels challenged it. The court issued the arrest orders after hearing from both sides.

Anisul has been shown arrested in three cases filed with Jatrabari Police Station and one with Sutrapur Police Station. Salman has been shown arrested in one case, Palak in three cases and ex-IGP Mamun in three filed with the Jatrabari Police Station. Nazrul has shown arrested in one case with the Jatrabari Police Station. Menon and Inu have been shown arrested in one case filed with the Mirpur Model Police Station.

Arif has been shown arrested in one case with the Kotwali Police Station.

Journalists Rupa and Shakil have been shown arrested in one case each filed with the Mirpur Model Police Station. Assistant Police Commissioner Iftekhar has been shown arrested in one case with the Kafrul Police Station. Malek has been shown arrested in one case filed with the Hatirjheel Police Station.