Staff Correspondent:

A total of 11 high-profile accused, including former law minister Anisul Huq and former prime ministerial adviser Salman F Rahman, appeared virtually before a Dhaka court on Monday in connection with separate murder and attempted murder cases related to the July uprising.

The virtual appearance was made before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuzzaman from Keraniganj Jail, confirmed Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of the DMP’s Prosecution Wing, Mayeen Uddin Chowdhury.

“From now on, attendance hearings for high-profile accused will be held virtually, while remand hearings will continue in physical presence,” said ADC Mayeen.

Other accused who joined the virtual hearing include former ministers Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu, and Shahjahan Khan; former state ministers Kamal Ahmed Majumder and Zunaid Ahmed Palak; former MPs Kazi Monirul Islam Monu and Sadek Khan; and leaders of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, Abul Hasnat Adnan and Mostofa Kamal.

Of the 11, Salman, Anisul, Palak, Inu, Menon, and Shahjahan appeared in an attempted murder case filed with Jatrabari Police Station. Kamal Majumder was named in a murder case filed with Mirpur Model Police Station. Sadek Khan appeared in an attempted murder case lodged with Kolabagan Police Station. Kazi Monirul Islam Monu is also an accused in an attempted murder case under Jatrabari Police Station, while Adnan and Mostofa Kamal face charges in a murder case filed with Kolabagan Police Station.

Earlier, on 7 August this year, Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mostafizur Rahman directed that virtual appearances be allowed for inmates accused in militancy, terrorism, or sensitive political cases, citing security concerns. Courtroom No. 28 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court has already been digitised for this purpose.