A hot day makes Salman F Rahman unease, says, 'If I wear these, I will die'

Exactly one year, nine months, and eight days ago, on August 13, 2024, Salman F Rahman, former adviser to Sheikh Hasina and former Member of Parliament, was arrested from Sadarghat in the capital. Following the fall of the Awami League government, he was presented before the court for multiple cases. However, he had always maintained his characteristic silence, at most consulting with his lawyer.
This time, however, Salman F Rahman spoke in front of journalists, stating that he would not wear a helmet and bulletproof jacket. In his words, "It's very hot, too hot. If I wear these in this heat, I will die." He spoke along these lines after being brought to court from prison on Thursday.

Regarding this, lawyer Morshed Hossain Shahin said, "Salman F Rahman prefers to remain quiet. He doesn't say anything outside of legal consultation. However, he spoke today while being made to wear the jacket and helmet. Considering his age and humanitarian grounds in this heat, they should not be forced to wear helmets and bulletproof jackets."

According to court sources, Salman F Rahman was brought to court from prison at around 9:30 AM in connection with two money laundering cases filed at Motijheel Police Station. Subsequently, his lawyer applied for bail, while public prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruki opposed the bail plea. After hearing both sides, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Sabbir Foyez rejected the bail application.

Md. Riyaz Hossain, the bench assistant of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, said, "Salman F Rahman had applied for bail in two cases. However, after the hearing, the court rejected the plea."

It is reported that on September 18, 2024, Sohanur Rahman of the CID filed a case at Motijheel Police Station, naming six individuals including Salman F Rahman as accused. According to the case allegations, Peerless Garments Limited exported goods using two LCs but did not bring back the export value. The accused allegedly laundered 1.998 million US dollars under the guise of foreign trade.

Additionally, on September 17, 2024, CID Police Inspector Golam Mostafa filed another case as the plaintiff at Motijheel Police Station, which also accused six individuals including Salman F Rahman. The allegation in this case states that between November 29, 2022, and January 31, 2023, Autumn Loop Apparels Limited, a corporate guaranteed institution of the Beximco Group, exported goods worth 2.832 million US dollars to the United Arab Emirates through three LCs, but the dollars were not brought back.

Following the investigations into both cases, the investigating officers have submitted charge sheets to the court against the accused named in the First Information Report (FIR).