Detained BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman was placed on one day's police remand for interrogation in an extortion case against him by a court yesterday.
On the other hand, Tarique complained to the court that physical tortures were carried out on him in remand on December 31 last.
He also sought justice from the 'independent' judiciary.
"Please, don't place me on remand. They torture me in remand. Let me live…I want to live," cried out Tarique, making a fervent appeal to the judge, as crowds of media crew, police, lawyers and his supporters scrambled outside the court in Old Dhaka.
As the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case, filed with Gulshan Police Station by Khan Mohammad Aftabuddin, managing director of Reza Construction Ltd, sought to the court to place him on seven days' remand, Tarique complained that he was subjected to "physical and mental torture" during repeated remands.
"Inhuman tortures were inflicted upon me taking me blindfolded with a piece of black cloth to an unknown place on December 31 last. Inhuman tortures continued round-the-clock binding my hands above. Now I feel severe pain in my waist and I can't sit," he said.
Besides, he alleged that he had been facing negligence in treatment.
During the remand hearing, Tarique Rahman, eldest son of detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia, was given a chair to sit in the dock as he felt sick and couldn't keep standing.
Tarique said, "I'm in politics for a long time. For that I went to many places of the country. I helped many orphans, poor and helpless people. I distributed cows and goat among these people. I arranged the weddings of many poor girls. I also arranged treatment of many people. I'm a politician, not a terrorist. I'm concerned about the safety of my life."
The court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ehsanul Haque eventually granted police one day for grilling Tarique in the extortion case.
Earlier, Tarique was taken to the court amidst tight security. In the beginning he tried to speak to the media, but police did not allow him to do so.
Lawyers said that the IO prayed for his seven-day remand on November 15 and hearing was completed upon the prayer. The judge rejected the remand prayer and asked the investigating police official to interrogate him at the jail gate.
After about two months, the IO of the case again sought his seven-day remand on January 7.
Tarique's counsel alleged that he was "tortured in the name of remand" and also prayed to the judge to give order to interrogate him at the jail gate instead of granting remand anymore.
During the hearing, the lawyers argued that Tarique Rahman's name was not in the FIR of the case. Controversial businessman Giasuddin Al-Mamun, his friend, is to blame for allegedly taking money from the real-estate firm, they told the court.
"Tarique Rahman is the victim of conspiracy and was arrested only to keep him aloof from politics," said the panel of lawyers.
It was alleged that Giasuddin Al-Mamun demanded Tk 1.32 crore from the Reza Construction Firm--as it clinched construction-work order for two roads in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj on June 23, 2005.
Allegations also have it that he also threatened that the tender would be cancelled if Aftabuddin refused to give the speed money. "Later, Aftabuddin paid the money by cheque," it is stated in the graft case.
A chaotic situation was created in the court as police pushed a cameraman of Channel-I from the stairs of the court when he went to take video shots of Tarique.
"As he protested, all the police gathered there and attempted to beat the journalist. But the situation became normal with the intervention of lawyers," a witness said.
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